New  Brunswick.  N.J. 

Theological  5eminarY 


lnaugurQt\on  of  the 
Rev.  A.  B.  Van  Zand t 


1 

BV 

4070 

.N36 

162 

1872 

^-  •■ 

1 

BV  4070  .N36  162  1872 
New  Brunswick  Theological 

Seminary. 
Inauguration  of  the  Rev.  A 

B.  Van  Zandt,  D.D,^ 


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j^EY.     A..    P     Van    Zandt.    p,    P 


AS   I'KoM.SSui:  111     KlliAi    IK     AM)   rof.KMIf  TIIKOI.OUY   IN  TlIK 
SKMINAKV   OF     THi:     i:  I  I-.  .|- m  I  i )    .lHlvTII     I\     AMKKICA. 


New    Brunswick,     New    ^Jersey, 


September    2-4,    1872. 


NKW  VolJK  : 

BoAKD  OK   Pi  HLFCATION   UF  THK   KkKOKMED  ChLRCH    IN    A.MKKK   \. 

No.    3  4    Vesey    Strkkt. 
1  S  7  -J  . 


Nkw  Vokk.  OctolHT  :i0lh,  1873. 

The  U.  V    

The  undorsipnod  fo«jl  it  to  Ixj  dm-  to  llit*  iiii|iortanrc  of  the  occa- 
sion iiixi  to  tho  inlorcKts  of  iho  entire  liononiinution,  tliat  llio  exercises  ut  the 
rei-ent  inau^'nrnti<in  of  a  I'rofe.ssor  of  IHdaetie  Theoloffv  in  the  Theoioffical  Sem- 
inary of  our  Clmn-h,  includinfi:  the  Sermon  by  ihe  President  of  tho  tJeneral 
Synod,  tiio  ciiarge  to  tlio  Professor  elect,  and  the  inaugural  address  of  tlio  lat. 
ter  should  be  printed  and  widely  distributed.  For  this  purfiose,  we  res|>oct- 
fully  rei|ue8t  a  copy  of  your  discourse  un  the  occasion. 

.lAMKS  ANDKRLSON,   New  York, 
K.   II.  PRUYN.   .Vn.any, 
C.VKDXKU    A.  SA<}E.   New  York. 
SAML  H.  SCIIIKIFKLIN.        ' 
P.   11.    BALLANTl.NK,  Newark. 
JOHNSON    LKTSON.  New  IJriii.sui.k. 


.Vi.HAXY,  November  5th,   1872. 
.I.vMKS  \NDKR.s;).\.  .M.  l"..  lln.v.  K.  H.  pRiYX.  (Jaiiuner  A.  Saoe,  and  others: 
Oentleinen. 

I  ciieerfully  accede  to  your  request,  and  will  forward 
the  manuscript  of  the  Sermon  preached  at  the  inaupiration  of  Prof.  Van 
Zandt,  to  the  Chairman  of  your  Commiitee. 

Very  truly,  yours, 

.1.    1:I..MKNDURF. 


To  Jaues  Axi)KR.sox,  .M.  I)..  R.  II.  Piuyx.  G.  A.  Sage,  and  others: 
(leutlenien, 

In  compliance  with  your  request.  I  herewith  transmit 
a  wjpy  of  tiie  char^re  delivered  at  the  Inauguration  of  Prof.  A.  B.  Van  Zandt, 
Yours,  truly. 

('.   II.   ST  ITT. 
Kingston,  Nov.  r.'tli.  ls72 


Tiieoi.o(;k-al  Seminahy,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  Nov.  4th,  1872. 
To  Messrs.  Axdersox,  Pruyx,  S.\GE,  and  others  : 
Gentlemen, 

I  reit)pnize  your  aeeustometl  jrenerosity.  in  proposing  to 
publish  "  for  distribution  throuphout   the  Church"  the  severid  discourses  deliv- 
ered at  my  Inauguration.     It  would,  least  of  all.  become  me  to  decline   your 
pro|x>sal,  and  I  cheerfully  submit  a  copy  of  my  address  on  tliat  occasion. 
Very  truly,  yours, 

A.   B.  VAN  ZANDT. 


Order    of    Exercises. 


The  services  for  the  installation  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  A.  H.  V as 
Zani>t,  as  Professor  of  Didactic  :ind  Polemic  Theolo^'V  in  the  Sem- 
inary of  the  lu'forturd  C'lmrch  in  Xew  Hriuiswick,  N.  .J.,  were  held 
in  the  Second  Heforrned  (hnnli,  at  11  o'clock  on  Tuesday  morn- 
ing, September  24th. 

After  an  anthem  had  been  tinely  rendered  by  the  choir  of  the 
church,  the  liev.  Ahkl  T.  Stkwabt,  of  Holland,  Midi.,  invoked 
tlie  presence  and  blessing;  of  God. 

'I'he  Rev.  Dr.  AV.  II.  Ten  Kyck,  of  Astoria,  L.  I.,  read  the  Scrip- 
tures, which  was  followed  by  singirg.  Prayer  was  then  offered  l)y 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Chakles  IIonoE,  the  venerable  Professor  of  Theology 
in  Princeton  Seminary,  after  which  the  590th  hymn  was  read  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Piiii.ii'  Schaik,  of  the  Union  Theological  Seminary, 
N.  V. 

The  Rev.  J)r.  Elmkxdokk,  of  Albany.  President  of  General 
Synod,  preached  the  sermon  for  the  occasion,  from  2  Tim.  3  :  K",,  17: 
''All  Scripture  is  given  hy  inspiration  of  God,  and  is  projitahte  for 
doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correcti<in,  for  instruction  in  righteousness  : 
that  the  man  of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  furnished  unto  all 
good  vorks. 


The  Rev.  Chaki.ks  H.  Stitt.    D.   D..  of  Kingston, 

X.  v.,   thru 

delivered  the  charge  to  tlio  Professor-elect,  wolcomii 

ig  him  to  his 

high  and  important  otHce. 

j             Upon   the  conclusion   of  the  charge,    the    liev.  Dr. 

\'an'  Clkek, 

1         Stated  Clerk  of  (ieneml  Synod,  read  the  constitution; 

il  formula,  to 

ORDER    OF  EXERCISES. 


which  the  Professor-elect  subscribed  his  name  in  the  presence  of 
the  congregation. 

The  Eev.  Dr.  Chambers  of  the  Collegiate  church,  New  York 
City,  then  read  the  468th  hymn,  which  was  sung — the  congrega- 
ion  standing. 

Dr.  Van  Zandt  then  delivered  his  inaugural  address. 

The  exercises  were  closed  by  singing  the  long-metre  doxology, 
and  the  benediction  pronounced  by  Professor  Van  Zandt.  The 
attendance  upon  the  exercises  was  very  good.  The  clergy  and 
laity  of  the  Church  were  well  represented. 


The    Man    of    pon 


II  Tiiiiothi/ ^:  H'..  17.  -All  scripturo  is  piven  liy  inspirit  i(  in  of  God.  and 
is  iirutititbli-  for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruction  in 
ripliteousnesa: 

That  the  man  of  God  may  bo  perfect,  tliorouf!:hly  furnished  unto  all  pood 
works  " 

Accnnliiii,^  to  its  :i|>iir.>i>ri:iteuess  a  titlo  is  an  altidiiii^ 
|...\viT.  That  whicli  l>y  implication  tlii'  ai).»stle  in  tlie  text, 
confers  ui)on  all  true  niini>tcrs  of  Christ,  is  surely  the  most 
ancient,  honoralde  and  ennoliliiiir,  that  can  be  home  l»y  the 
human  messeni^ers  of  God.  This  they  may  n<»t  only  asjtire 
to,  hut  in  all  its  fulness  of  nieanino;,  may  legitimately  a])i)ro- 
priate  in  the  measure  of  their  conscious  faithfiduess  to  llini 
who  hath  called  them.  Employed  a  score  and  a  half  times 
in  the  Old  Testament,  and  in  every  instance  to  desigiutte  a 
••  prophet  ot  the  I.onl,"  it  seems  ch-ar  that  Paul— who  only, 
of  New  Testament  writers  uses  the  [)lirase — applies  it  to 
Timothy,  as  to  one  dedicated  to  (iod  in  the  ministry: 
especially,  when  his  W(.rd>  in  immcMliate  connection  -with 
the  text  are— "1  char-e  thtc,  theretore,  hefore  (iod  and 
the  Lonl  .loas  Chri>t,  who  shall  judi^e  thi'  quick 
and  the  dead  at  his  ai»i>earin_ir  and  his  kin<^nlom  ;  preach  the 
word,  he  instant  in  season,  out  of  season,  re)»rove.  relmke, 
exhort  with  all  lon;;-sutferinir  and  doctrine." 


10  THE  31  A K  OF  GOD. 


"Witli  many  aiitlioritative  expositors  thus  understanding 
the  apostle,  let  ns  briefly  consider 

I.  The  man  of  God. 

My  thought  merely  touches  his  creation,  his  call  and  his 
coimn  ission. 

Tiio  man  of  God  is  the  realized  divine  idea  of  an  instru- 
ment for  a  specific  work  in  the  church  of  God.  David's 
contemplation  of  the  preparation  of  such  instrument,  goes 
hack  of  the  time  of  its  manifestation  to  men.  "  Thine  eyes 
did  see  my  substance  yet  being  nnperfect."  His  utterances  in 
the  connection  are  very  obscure.  Yet  this  is  clearly  his  idea, 
that  '•'■  all  his  members," — the  elements  of  his  being — "•  all  the 
events  and  influences  of  his  life  " — were  written  in  God's 
book,  before  one  of  them  existed. 

So  the  plan  of  God  with  regard  to  every  instrument  of  di- 
vine grace  for  founding  and  extending  his  kingdom,  includes 
his  creation.  And  such  creation  takes  on  a  specific  and 
most  impressive  aspect.  For  illustration  : — in  its  highest 
conception  our  Bible  is  an  organized  whole,  of  which  each 
l]ook  is  an  essential  part.  Then  the  truest  idea  of  inspira- 
tion makes  each  Book  to  have  depended  essentially  upon  the 
intellectual,  emotional  and  even  imaginative  temperament 
of  its  inspired  author  "  directed,  controlled,  made  truthful 
and  pure  as  became  the  trustworthy  agent  of  so  holy  a 
work." 

When  then,  the  history  of  the  kingdom  of  God  in  the 
world,  shall  be  as  complete  as  is  the  record  of  revelation,  is 
it  fanciful  to  anticipate,  that  it  shall  be  seen  that  each  human 


v.'//-;   t/.i.v  OF  lioiK  I  I 

iiistniiiifiit  ill  the  service  of  the  chiireh,  was  as  (Iciiitnistra- 
Itlv  crra't'd   for   Iiis  spet'iHi'    work,  as   was   i'a<-h  lioly  man  ot" 

(J.mI  thr-.n-h  wl i  thr    ll-.lv   (;hn>t    >|h,U,.  ••  in  ..M  i  imc  T" 

IliTi',  it'aMvwluTi'  th»'  iiKjuirv  arises — what  <»rii;;iiial  eii«h>w- 
iiK'tits  indicate  "the  man  of  (intl?"  The  <|iiestioii  pnuiiises 
to  he  jn-actical,  if  not  imh-cl  \  erv  t  rouKK'-oinc.  I'«.r  the 
o|iiiiioii  i>  i>-iiinii-  lVi>ni  eiiiiiieiit  and  inlhirntial  .-onrces  that 
there  an-  ton  niaiiv  inini>tiT.-  in  the  land,  liecau.-e  the  avcr- 
a>;e  piH-acher  i>  not  up  to  the  iiiteUeetiial  standard  imw  (h-- 
niaudcd.  Thi'  cry  i>  "  ^ix  e  ii>  larnest,  learned,  ahle.  eloipiciit, 
live  ])reaeliers."  Sit'tiiii:-  jn-oeesses  are  sii<;i;este<l  which  shall 
.-eeiire  the  (diiirch  fewer  the  hetti-r  ministers.  An  arrest  is 
to  he  laid  npoii  heiieliciary  sy.-teins.  And  for  con^isteliev,  of 
iieces>ity,  the  i-etitioii  taimht  his  (dmrch  hy  her  Head  nin>t 
he  amende<[  so  tiiat  it  shall  hi — "Pray  ye  the  Lord  of  the 
harvest  that  lie  would  send  forth  ''  Jiicr  hut  tuorc  hiijJdij 
(jif't(<l  "  lahorcrs  into  the  harvi'st."  Are  we  not  in  peril  of 
leirariliiiiT  so  exidii^ixcly  and  rewardiiiii"  so  hivishly  mere 
iiitelleetiialities  in  the  niini>try,  as  to  eiidaiii^er  the  spiiMtnal 
interests  of  tin-  cimrch  and  wi-akeii  her  streiii;tli  ^  Are  not 
many  steriinir,  ( 'hri>tdike  (jiialitii-s  overlooked  or  iimh-rx  allied 
in  many  ministers  of  Ohrist.  who  are  unahle  or  nnwiliinii-  to 
>l»end  the  tinu'  in  preparation  (»f  their  sermons,  needed  to 
adorn  tliem  with  tlie  charms  of  tinislied  and  taeinatini::  rlie- 
t->ric^  Is  not  oriiiinal.  stirrin;::  Jiuhkui  t/iom/Iit^  as  an  oiiject 
"f  desire  in  sermons,  more  and  iiioi-e  siii)plantini:-  the  siinj>le 
••  trtith  as  it  in  .lesns  '.  "' 


If  the  chinHdi  will  not  ri'inemher  and  hi-  u-uide(l  hy  tiie 
ever  eonsj)iciioiis  truths — con.-tant  vi'rifications  ot' the  h-irend 
of  St.  Francis — that  many  ot"  her  heaven-aj)prove(l  and  suc- 
cessful ministers  have  not  had  strikiiiir  intellectual  irifts  :  that 


12  THE  MAN  OF  GOB. 


unpromising  candidates  have  risen  to  eminence  in  the 
church  and  rendered  her  long  and  distinguished  service — 
in  sorrow  she  may  be  compelled  to  learn  the  meaning  of  the 
scriptures  "  God  hath  chosen  the  foolish  things  of  the  world 
to  confound  the  wise ;  and  God  hatli  chosen  the  weak  things 
of  the  world  to  confound  the  things  which  are  mighty." 
"  Not  by  might  nor  by  power,  but  by  my  Spirit,  saith  the 
Lord  of  Hosts." 

We  rejoice  with  profound  gratitude,  whenever  God  unites 
a  splendid  intellect  with  a  loving  heart  and  an  humble,  con- 
secrated spirit  and  sends  it  forth  to  flash  its  celestial  concep- 
tions upon  hnman  minds  with  startling  l)rilliancy;  to  melt 
human  hearts,  instrumentally,  by  most  vivid  delineations  o 
Christ  crucifled ;  to  lead  enthusiastic  multitudes  by  a  radiant 
example  "  to  spend  and  be  spent"  in  the  master's  service. 
We  would  liave  the  responsibility  fully  met  in  every  par- 
ticular, which  is  imposed  by  the  solemn  charge  "  lay  hands 
suddenly  upon  no  man."  Yet  neither  the  presence  nor  the 
absence  of  rare  mental  endowments,  indicates  conclusively 
"  the  man  of  God."     God's  own  call  dofs  this. 

It  is  not  necessary  here  to  expound  the  doctrine  of  a  special 
call  to  the  minstry  ;  its  scrj[)tural  authority  ;  its  deflnitions ; 
the  distinctions  and  the  conditions  of  disposition  and  princi- 
ples it  includes.  The  essential  thing  for  my  purpose,  is  the 
the  soul's  recognition  of  its  own  ''  heavenly  calliiig."  This 
must  come  to  the  sj)i?'it  of  the  man  hy  the  Sjnrit  of  the  Lord. 
Apart  from  and  below  his  sense  of  divine  pardon  and  his  re- 
sulting joy  and  peace  in  believing ;  below  his  compassion  for 
the  souls  that  are  ready  to  perish  and  his  zeal  for  Jesus' 
glory  in  their  salvation ;  below  the  intensest  longing  to  "grow 


77/ A'    .t/.l.V    OF  (lOI).  i:> 


ill  i;race  :iinl  in  tlir  kiiowli'dirc  of  the  Lord  .Icsiis  Christ,"  to 

t':itlioiii  lii'uv  t'lilv  iiiv>tiM-i'-s  ;ri(l  "  (•(»iiii»rt'li('ii(l   with  all  saints       ^ 

I 
uhat  is  tin-  l.i-fadlli  an.l  i.-n-tii  and  i\vy\\\  aixl  hciirlit  ;  and  !.. 

know  tlu'  lo\i'  (if  Chri-t  which  |»as>cth  kiiowii'duv" — tiu'  con- 

\iction  i;rou>  int«>  tin- >oid  of  the  called  diic  "  ncccfisitij  ift  hiid 

upon  III'."      Aflcr  the  nio>t  |>iavi'i-rul    rc\  icw  of  all  the  wavs 

in  which   the    l^.rd    lia>    h'<l  him:    after    the  ni.ot    inii)artial 

woiijhin^  ol"  his  nioti\  e>;  af'ter   the   nio>t   careful  otiinate  <il" 

the  trials,  toils,  self-denial,  responsihilities  of  the  sacred  otlice; 

after  conteiniilation  of  the   possihle   or   waitinir  wi-alth  and 

liunors   and   ^rlorv    ot"  this  world    from  which  it  take.>  him — 

out  of  the  depths  of  that  disciple's  soul  stru_-:,i;les  the  helief— 

as  honest  as  was  I'anl's  — '*?w^y  /,<*  i)n\  [f  I  jtrcach  not  the  Gos- 

ji.iy      And  thev  who  lu-ar  thi>  contes>ion,  so  frau-lit   with 

siijniticance  of  di\ine  au-encv,  of  human   ol>lio;itioii,  ..t'  tem- 

])oraI  and  eternal   consiMpienco,  do   wi'll  to  acre])t   the  tact 

as  a    matter    fundanuMitally  hetween  that   >oul  an«l    its  (Jod. 

and  S(.  treat  it,  that    that    ..tlier  uv/,    which    is   for    those  In/ 

irlioni  oit'eiiMS  come,  fall  not  upon  them. 

Whom  tlic  ^ureat  Head  of  the  Ohurch  calls,  he  in  his  own 
time  commiitsionx. 


•As 

my  F 

ither  hat 

li  sent  me,  even 

<o  se 

nd  1 

you 

" 

n.ese 

w 

..rds, 

inter] 

•reted  hv 

the  Savi(jur's  la 

st  ehar^a' 

and 

].r. 

•mise, 

el 

early 

refei- 

to  all  Ch 

rist's  ndnisters  t 

>  the 

end 

oft 

'me 

Dr. 

15 

auer 

nndei 

•>tand>    t 

le   expression — 

'the 

mai 

1   of 

(iod"  as 

n 

eanin<r  oia 

who  in 

the  church  oecM 

l)ie> 

the 

.lace 

•  of 

(mmI. 

S 

■arce 

y  less 

exalted 

is  the  ajiostle's  e 

•nee 

)tion 

:  '• 

now 

then 

wi'  are 

andia.s 

sadtu's  fo 

r  Christ,  asthoui. 

•h(o 

Midi 

1  la 

seet 

h  vou 

h 

\-  us.' 

'     Mi 

dsters  re 

present  ( "lirist ; 

ivv  t 

o   <h 

in 

his 

kini:- 

d 

•in.  \ 

•hat  h 

e  would 

do   were   he   i>ei 

•SMiia 

ll.v    1 

•re.-t 

nt. 

The 

14  THE  MAN   OF   GOD. 


gospel  message  from  their  lips  is  God  speaking  throiigli 
tliem  :  is  tlie  vei-y  wisdom  of  God  and  power  of  God  to  the 
salvation  of  those  who  believe.  What  human  phrase  could 
so  declare  the  sublime  dignity  and  awful  solemnity  with 
which  the  minister  of  Christ  is  invested  ? 

The  delineation  of  the  poet  is  as  true,  as  it  may  be  trite — 

•■  There  stands  tlie  messenger  of  truth  ;  there  stands 

The  legate  of  the  skies  !     His  theme  divine, 

His  office  sacred,  his  credentials  clear. 

By  him  the  violated  law  speaks  out 

Its  thunders;  and  by  him  in  strains  as  sweet 

As  angels  use,  the  gospel  whispers  peace." 

"  No  man  taketh  this  honor  unto  liimselt,  but  he  that  is 
called,  of  God,  as  was  Aaron.""  But  he  who  is  called,  with- 
out vanity  or  presumption  must  feel  and  insist,  that  the 
essential  quality  of  his  commission  is  the  principle  of  its 
divine  origin  and  authority.  This  distinguishes  and  esta- 
l)lishes  the  Christian  ministry  al)()ve  Imman  dispensation  or 
ban.  This  clothes  it  with  the  majesty  and  might  which  his 
own  words  give — whose  name  is  above  every  other  name  and 
wdiose  is  all  power  in  heaven  and  earth — "  I  send  you  :"  "  Lo, 
I  am  with  j^ou  alway." 

Yet  the  efficiency  of  "  the  man  of  God,"  his  moral  and 
spiritual  power,  are  made  to  depend  upon  his  character  and 
(pialiilcations.     So  w^e  consider 

II.  His  possible  official  perfection. 

"  Tliat  the  man  of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  fur- 
nished unto  all  o-ood  works." 


'/•///•.'   i/.i.v  or   <inn. 


Till-  \\\\i\\  i»i'rs<>ii:il  s|.irit\i:ility,  wliicli  is  cMJoiiicd  l.v  llic 
t»'Xt  ujion  every  rhrisf/'ttn  ns  tlicv  say,  wlio  umlcrstaiKl  it  as 
rcttTi-iiiir  to  (/>  ,1'  r<r/  v:\\\\rv  tliaii  to  o////'/f// diaractcr,  is  iiitjccd 
the  toimdation  <>t"  iiiiiii>tcrial  ('XccIIi'Mcc.  'I'Iic  true  aiul  siic- 
cosst'ul  iMiMi>t('r  iiiii-t  lie  a  man  of  ilf('|),  cxiicriiiifiital.  con- 
sistent plrty.  I'.  r.i-i!yrrc  «lcclaiT<  tiiicly  what  nio-t  li.ivclrlf  : 
''Tlu'iv  arc  iii.'U  >o  IimIv  that  their  \rry  character  is  ^iitli- 
ciiMit  to  per.-iiaih'.  They  a|i|ii'ar,  and  the  whoK-  a»einMy  i 
j        wliich  is  to  hear  them,  i>  a>   it    were  ali-eaily   im|iresse(l  ami 

eoiiviiu-c'd  hy  their  |ire>eni-e.**  ^'et  piety,  however  i)rononii-  | 
('('(I  anil  tlistini:iii>he(l  neither  con.-titnto  nor  deci(h's  one's 
titiu'ss  tor  the  mini>try.  And  iierha|)>  the  hest  test  that  he 
can  :i]'|»ly.  ^vho  t"eels  Inmself  ealle(l  to  the  sacred  ottice,  is, 
whether  he  feels  called  n/.so  to  the  severe  and  ]>rotracted  la- 
l»or  and  self-denial,  surely  inxohcd  in  such  ]irej)aration  to 
jtreaeli  the  j^ospel,  as  shall  make  him  •"thoroughly  fnnnslied 
unto  all  good  works  T' 

"  That  the  man  of  (iod  may  he  ])erfect."  The  official 
perfeetion  here  I'ujoined  and  declared  possible,  corres- 
ponds with  the  moral  perfection  which  the  cOniinand 
of  Christ  makes  ohligatoi-y  ujKtn  every  believer:  '"  ]'e  ye 
therefore  perfect  ;  evi-n  as  your  Fatlu-r  which  is  in  heaven 
is  pertect."  The  pert'ectiou  of  tlu'  <liviiu'  character  as  re- 
veah'd  in  Jesus  ('liri>t  i>  the  lielicver'>  nioclel  of  virtue,  and 
hi<  ^uprenu'  effort  ami  end  in  all  the  departments  of  his 
moral  and  sjjiritual  lite  i>  t..  .-trive  after  likeness  to  God  in 
purity,  love,  holiness. 

''The  discij)le  is  not  above  his  mastei- ;  but  evi-ry  one  that 
'\>  perfect  shall  be  as  his  master."  desus  Christ  is  the  ni<Mkd 
**  minister  of  sanctuary,"  and  his  anduissadors  realize  a  pro- 


16  THE  31  AN  OF  GOD. 


gressive  official  perfection,  as  ih^i  posaihle  of  their  endow- 
iiients  for  work  are  made  actual  in  liis  service,  according 
to  his  example.  He  was  the  perfect  teacher,  the  perfect 
reprover,  the  perfect  converter,  the  perfect  instructor 
in  righteonsness.  And  these  are  the  good  works  specified 
in  the  text,  for  the  performance  of  which  the  man  of  God  is 
to  1)0  thoroughly  furnished.  And  while  each  work  may  he 
contemplated  as  distinct,  yet  all  are  related  in  preaching  the 
gospel,  while  there  is  also,  it  seems  to  me,  an  order  and  ad- 
vance in  these  offices,  corresponding  to  the  successive  experi. 
ences  of  the  subjects  of  ministerial  effort  and  influence,  from 
the  darkness  and  deadness  of  sin,  up  to  the  most  illumined 
and  rapturous  joys  of  salvation. 

This  leads  us  to  notice 

III.  The  means  by  which  the  indicated  perfection  is  to  be 
effected. 

"  That  the  man  of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  fur- 
nished unto  all  good  works — all  scripture  is  given  by  inspi- 
ration ol  God  and  is  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for 
correction,  for  instruction  in  rigiiteousness." 

My  purpose  is  not  to  prove  the  apostle's  assertion  con- 
cerning the  inspiration  of  tlie  scriptures,  Init  to  accept  it  with 
devout  gratitude.  A\^e  need  not  even  notice  the  critical 
questions  about  "  subject"  and  "  predicate"  and  the  like, 
whicli  gather  over  the  jiassage.  Its  clear  and  defensible 
meaning  is — the  sacied  scripture  in  all  its  parts  was  divinely 
inspired:  "'inspired  not  merely  while  it  was  written,  God 
lu-eathini'-  through,  the   writers;  but  also  while  it  is  being 


77//;  .1/  i.v  o/'   a  (ID. 


rciul,  (iod  hrt'ittliiiiir  tlin»iii;li  the  -criittiiri's  and  tin- scrip- 
turt's  lircatliiiiir  liiiii."  'riii>  i>  the  force  u\'  tlic  word.  'I'Ik- 
(U'fl:ir:ili..M  (.f  tin-  text  i>  cnni-criiiiiii-  tlu-  Old  'rr-.t;iniciit 
Scriptiiri'saiid  thus  cstuldi^lir.-.  tlu'ir  diviiiitv  and  alddiiiir  aii- 
thoritv  ;  Imt  uli,  li.w  imicii  iimrf  iiii|)..rtaiit  and  irloriuiis  is  its 
scopf,  ulicii.  a."  r>>r  ii>  it  Ain'>,  it  cuNcrs  tlu'  cuiiiiili'tccl  vol- 
iiiiic  of'  Iv'<'\  flatioM. 


(mkI  lia>  iri\i-ii  u>  a  |ifrt('cl  I'onk  and  l>v  it,  with  liis  lik's- 
siiiir,  the  man  ..t  (Jod  i>  to  In-  made  jicrfcct  I'nr  Ids  work, 
(ind  c.nii.Ictfd  tlic  r.iMc  as  lie  (•uniiiietcd  ciTati-.n  in  (.nr 
world,  tliat  tlu-  ticld  of  man's  cnorf-  in  its  ma-tcry  mi-lit 
iiave  definite  limits.  The-e  !•  .unds  while'  di>tinrt  are 
snl.limelv  extended.  St  ret  chin-- from  the  --lories  of  creation 
to  till'  irreater  -lories  of  tlie  '•final  rotitntion  of 
all  thintrs;"  feachin,-:-  from  the  lowe>f  depth  of  -  the 
l.lackness  of  dai-kne»"  to  the  intinitc  heiu'lit>  and 
the  celestial  ra<liance  which  cornscati's  from  the  crown  of 
tlu-  Kin-- of  kin-s.  they  end. race  all  the  history,  prophecies, 
preempts,  ri'vi'lati<»n  of  niysti-i-ies  nccdiMl  to  demonstrate  tin- 
jtrohlems  of  sin  and  salvation  :  to  estahlish  the  eternal  snl>- 
ordination  of  all  the  force>  of  evil  to  the  redemptive  and 
mediatorial  triumphs  and -lory  of  the  Son  of  (iod.  Vieldin-- 
its -;reat  and  savin-:  truths  to  the  intelli<;ent  and  jovful  a|i- 
prehension  of  the  child,  these  send  up  ever  profoun«h  r  won- 
der.-of  meaninir  to  the  cleared  and  stren«,''thened  >]tiritual 
vi>ion,  in  answer  to  the  jtrayer  "open  thou  ndne  eyes."  Kn- 
foldinir  a  ^'uilty  world  in  the  arm.-  of  intinite  mercy,  it  con- 
centrates alnd-fhty  [lower  ami  eternal  lo\e  upon  everv  |m.(,i- 
dinner,  wh(»  peidti-ntly  tn-ndtlo  at  its  utterances.  Li-andn- 
,        finds  in  the  holy  Scripture-  it-  -imj.le-t  and  mo>t   fathondo- 


18  THE  31  AN  OF  GOD. 


subjects  ;  tlioiight  its  most  familiar  and  most  limitless  topics  ; 
eloquence  its  tenderest  and  most  treuicndous  themes  ;  duty 
its  gentlest  and  mightiest  motives  ;  henevolence  its  mildest 
and  intensest  stimulus  ;  faith  an<l  hope  their  clearest  and 
most  enn(»hling  earnests.  Rewarding  every  hour's  study 
with  divine  knowledge,  ten  thousand  lives  were  insufficient 
to  begin  the  exhaustion  of  its  wisdom. 

It  seems  prierile  t(^  make  the  distinction  a  learned  author 
does,  "  that  the  Scriptures  are  profitaljle  towards  teaclimg 
the  person  reading  them,  not  the  making  him  a  teacher.''^ 
Surely  that  wliich  heljys  (this  is  the  meaning  of  the  word) 
the  man  of  God  to  know  the  will  of  God,  best  prepares  him 
to  declare  that  will.  And  because  this  comprehensively  is 
his  mission,  the  mastery  of  the  Scriptures,  thoroughly  furnish- 
es him  for  his  work.  But  how  shall  the  man  of  God  become 
possessed  of  their  sacred  treasures,  that  he  may  pour  them  out 
abundantly  for  those  unto  whom  he  is  sent  1  "  By  the  agency 
of  the  Theological  Seminary,"  is  the  churcirs  own  practical 
answer.  Her  realization  of  a  ministry  "  thoroughly  furnish- 
ed,'" under  God  depends  upon  tlie  perfection  of  the  organi- 
zation of  the  schools  of  the  prophets  and  the  etfectiveness  of 
their  administration.  To  make  men  "■  mighty  in  the  Scrip- 
tures," the  languages  in  which  the  great  divisions  of  the 
Bible  M'ere  wa-itten,  the  geography,  the  civil  and  religions 
histories  of  the  people  who  spoke  them,  their  peculiar  habits, 
laws  of  thought  and  expression,  are  here  so  profoundly 
taught,  that  diligent  students  are  prepared  to  receive  their 
impressions  of  "all  scripture  given  l)y  inspiration  of  God," 
fi-iun  the  words  which  the  Holy  Ghost  taught.  Here,  the 
approved  and  inculcated  principles  and  methods  of  exegesis 
enable  them  to  understand  and  expound  divine  truths.    And 


THE  MAN  OF  GOD.  19 


liere,  their  classitication  according  to  the  rehitions  they  sus- 
tain as  component  parts  of  a  system,  turns  what  woukl  be 
disconnected,  historical  knowledge  of  them,  into  clear  and 
])road  comprehension  of  their  connection  and  inter-depen- 
dence, and  cpialities  the  preacher  to  advance  with  confidence 
and  consistency  in  his  work,  and  to  impart  solid  and  endur- 
ing instruction.  And  they  who  improve  faithtully  the  facil- 
ities here  atforded,  do  become  thoroughly  furnished  unto  the 
good  works  of  teaG/iiruj,  reproving,  corpecting  or  converting, 
instructing  in  righteousness — each  of  which  would  furnish  a 
theme  for  a  separate  discourse.  They  are  prepared  to  mar- 
shal the  trntlis  of  all  the  Scriptures  to  bear  upon,  pervade 
and  ];)erfect  these  works,  with  divine  energy  and  authority. 
All  that  they  make  known  concerning  Jehovah — his  perfec- 
tions, works,  government,  glory  ;  concerning  man — his  origi- 
]Uil  character,  his  fall,  relations,  recovery,  responsibility ; 
concerning  sin — its  origin,  nature,  consequences,  cure  ;  con- 
cerning redemption — its  author^  bringer,  applier,  its  condi- 
tions, subjects,  ends ;  concerning  all  the  gracious  benefac- 
tions, which  are  treasured  in  the  divine  mercy  and  which 
ilow  out  in  all  heavenly  consolations,  hopes,  earnests,  real- 
izations to  all  who  believe.  Not  only  the  truths  bearing 
upon  these  topics  of  eternal  moment  that  lie  upon  the  sur- 
face of  the  sacred  page  are  enforced,  but  those  so  interwoven 
with  the  revelation  of  divine  purposes  and  the  fullfillment  of 
promises,  whose  symbols  are  so  intermingled  with  and  re- 
flected from  the  types  and  ceremonies  of  the  earlier  dispen- 
sations ;  whose  relations  are  so  multitudinous  and  varied, 
that  the  largest  consecrated  learning,  the  most  patient  inves- 
tigation, the  most  fervent  enthusiasm  are  exhausted  in  the 
search  lor   them. 


20  THE  31  AN  OF  GOD. 


And  for  the  true  man  of  God  tliere  is  no  choice.  He 
nnist  dechxre  tlie  whole  counsel  of  God.  lie  must  expound 
the  whole  volume  of  divine  wisdom;  not  in  formal  and  life- 
less phrases,  but  so  that  his  expositions  shall  reflect  some- 
what its  treasures  of  lang'uage,  its  fervid  eloquence,  its  sub- 
lime poetry,  and  thus  captivate  Avhile  they  enrich  unto  ce- 
lestial exaltation  and  glory  the  heirs  of  immortality,  for 
whom  he  must  give  account.  Thus  "  all  Scripture  given  by 
inspiration  of  God"  is  translated  into  the  characters  of  be- 
lievers audits  sublime  end  achieved,  as  these  become  "  liv- 
ing epistles,  known  and  read  of  all  men." 

The  inferences  from  tlie  remarks  Ave  have  offered  are 
these : 

1st.  The  grave,  invariable  obligation  of  candidates  for  the 
ministry  and  of  those  in  its  active  service,  faithfully  to  impi-ove 
the  facilities  afforded  them,  in  thoroughly  ])erfecting  them- 
selves for  the  discharge  of  "  the  good  works^"  to  which  they 
are  called. 

2d.  The  exalted  perogatives;  far  reaching  power,  glorious 
possibilities,  witli  corresponding  responsibilities,  of  those  who 
teach  the  teachers  of  the  church  of  God. 

3rd.  If  less  manifest,  yet  as  relevant  and  important  is  the 
inference,  that  the  supreme  object  of  instruction  and  study 
preparatory  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  must  be  the  mastery 
of  the  Sorvptures. 

As  we  have  seen,  the  principle  of  its  divine  origin  and  au- 
thority, distinguishes  and  establishes  the  Christian  ministry. 
This  doctrine,  brethren,  is  to  be  contested  Avith  more  determi- 
nation than  ever  before.  There  are  influences  many  and  strong, 
direct  and  indirect,  workino-  sometimes  with  and  sometimes 


THE  3[AN  OF  GOD.  21 


against  the  intention  of  those  from  whom  they  flow,  which 
are  actively  nndermining-  the  foundations  of  this  claim,  in  the 
conviction  of  Christian  communities.  Of  these  may  be  named 
the  studied  and  persistent  efforts  to  efface  the  external  distinc- 
tions of  dress  and  title  and  social  habits  and  manners,  which 
once  marked  so  generally  Christian  ministers.  It  is  true  the 
ministry  inaugurated  and  voluntarily  co-operate  in  this  effort. 
And  they  succeed  in  mingling  with  strangers  without  disclos- 
ing their  office,  and  with  their  people  and  friends  so  familiar- 
ly, as  to  remove  the  distance  of  the  position  the  man  of  God 
once  seemed  to  occupy,  and  the  restraint  his  presence  exerted. 
Whether  this  change  be  desirable  or  not,  we  are  not  to  con- 
sider;  but  it  must  be  seen,  that  it  involves  the  loss  of  an  influ- 
ential means  of  maintaining  the  impression  upon  the  connnon 
mind,  of  the  Tninistry  as  a  consecrated  class  hy  divine  ajp- 
lyointmtnt  and.  authority. 

Farther,  because  of  the  growing  intelligence  in  the  church- 
es and  in  Christian  families  through  Sabbath-school  instruc- 
tion and  an  abounding  and  captivating  literature  ;  and  because 
of  the  rare  scriptural  ac(piirenients  which  many  teachers 
achieve  by  the  diligent  use  of  their  multiplied  helps,  the  su- 
})eriority  in  Biblical  and  sacred  knowledge,  which  once  charac- 
terized the  ministrj^  and  seemed  their  credential,  is  no  loiiger 
so  demonstrable.  The  expositions  of  the  Sabbath-school  are 
sometimes  more  fascinating  and  forcible  than  those  of  the  pul- 
pit. Gifted  laymen,  consecrating  their  powers  to  the  work  of 
l>ible  teaching,  obtain  not  merely  a  local  but  a  world-wide 
reputation,  and  the  association  of  these  in  organizations 
which  have  grown  to  be  National  and  even  International, 
make  tliem,  without  their  purpose,  competitors  for  the  palm 
of  hia'hest  usefulness. 


22  THE  31  AN  OF   GOD. 


— wliic'li  are  among'  the  most  cJieering  signs  of  the  times, — 
greatly  multiply  lay-workers  and  lay-preachers,  and  are  lead- 
ing to  the  establishment  of  "  lay-eoUeges"  for  their  training. 
Of  one  of  these  we  read  recently,  that  it  had  live  hundred  stu- 
dents engaged  in  lay-preaching,  visitation  of  the  sick  and  poor 
and  other  kinds  of  religions  work.  While  the  systematic  visita- 
tion and  eloquent  appeals  of  these  l)retliren,  necessarily, 
neither  invade  nor  come  in  contlict  with  the  prerogatives  and 
work  of  the  ordained  ministry,  yet  they  so  resemble  proper 
pastoral  and  pulpit  etlbrts  as  to  seem  identical  with  them, 
to  multitudes.  With  such,  the  very  natural  questions  arise : 
AVhat  do  ministers  more  than  these?  What  are  ministers 
more  than  these  ?  And  the  answers  which  occur  to  them, 
are  not  always  favorable  to  the  maintenance  of  the  special 
divine  a])])ointment  and  authority  of  the  ministerial  office. 

Then,  honest  but  misguided  religious  zeal,  of  wliich  there 
is  so  nnich,  when  it  pursues  Christian  work  whicli  interferes 
with  attendance  upon  the  regular  sanctuary  and  social  servi- 
ces of  the  cliurch,  disparages  the  ministry.  The  growing- 
habit  throughout  Christendom,  also  of  considering  and  mag- 
nifying the 2J6''sonal  traits,  rather  than  X\ie'oJficial  cJiaracter 
of  the  minister;  listening  to  the  j^/vacAcr,  rather  than  to  his 
inessa(je\  criticising  and  estimating  him  according  to  his  indi- 
vidual power,  rather  than  by  his  fidelity  to  duty  and  his  ability 
in  its  performance — obscures  more  and  more,  tiie  genei-al 
perception  of  the  special  sacredness  of  the  ministerial  office. 
And  the  final  results,  in  short,  of  these  influences  and  tenden- 
cies are  settled  opinions  such  as  were  recently  published  by 
a  quite  eminent  author  and  preacher. — "  To  neither  the  seven- 
ty nor  the  twelve  does  Jesus  grant  any  corporate  powers." 


THE  MAN  OF  GOD.  23 


"No  word  or  act  of  Jesus  before  or  after  Lis  resurrection, 
can  be  fairly  employed  to  sustain  the  modern  artificial  dis- 
tinction between  clergymen  and  lay-men."  Tims  the  con- 
flict is  coming.  The  testimony  and  seal  of  the  church  through 
centuries,  to  the  divinity  of  the  ministry,  will  not  pi-event  the 
contest.  Although  her  progress  and  very  existence  de- 
pend upon  the  doctrine,  the  tiiial  struggle  for  its  maintenance 
is  yet  to  be.  And  my  thought  is,  that  as  the  deepest  conviction 
of  the  truth  of  the  doctrine  results  in  each  "•  man  of  God"  from 
his  clear  and  al)iding  recognition  of  his  own  call  of  God;  so  his 
l)est  defense  of  it  will  be,  by  a  perfected  official  character, 
such  as  is  furnished  by  mastery  of  the  Scriptures.  While 
he  is  to  demonstrate  that  he  has  received  the  grace  of  God 
into  his  heart,  as  well  as  the  truth  of  God  into  his  head  ; 
that  the  cultivation  of  his  spirit  has  kept  equal  pace  with 
that  of  his  intellect ;  and  that  his  clearest  apprehensions  of 
doctrine  have  been  received  through  an  experience  (^f  their 
power,  and  of  duties,  l)y  his  own  consecration  to  their  per- 
formance,^— yet  must  tlu-.  superiority  of  his  hnoiolcdye  of  the 
Sc/'ipturc'.<<  compel  the  recognition  of  himself  as  their  divinely 
commissioned'expounder,  by  his  people.  This  much  church- 
es may  demand  and  ministers  be  prepared  to  give.  No  sys- 
tem of  instruction,  no  ability  and  faithfulness  of  teachers  can 
create  genius  and  its  electrifying  manifestations.  No  long- 
ing can  fetch  the  gift.  "  But  if  any  man  lack  wisdom  let 
him  ask  of  God  who  giveth  to  all  men  lil)er;dly  and  upbraid- 
etli  not,  and  it  shall  be  given  him.*'  And  he  who  ihrough 
intellectual  and  s[)iritual  perception  of  divine  things,  as  '•  a 
steward  of  the  mysteries  of  God,"  can  unfold  those  involved 
things  of  the  Spirit  and  open  those  deep  things  of  the  Spirit, 
which,  while  the  natnral  man  receives  them  not,  the  spiritu- 
ally enlightened  hail  as  new  elements  of  their  spii-itual  life  ; 


24  THE  MAN  OF  GOD. 


and  can  "  make  full  proof  of  liis  luinistry"  in  demonstrating 
the  lielpfulnesB  of  all  scripture  "for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for 
correction,  for  instruction  in  righteousness,"  goes  forth  to 
his  "good  works"  yet,  under  the  same  solemn  conditions  the 
Saviour  pronounced  over  the  Seventy;  "He  that  heareth 
you  heareth  me ;  and  he  that  despiseth  you  despiseth  me, 
and  he  that  despiseth  me  despiseth  him  that  sent  me."  And 
to  Ilhn  the  unreasonably  fastidious  must  answer  for  touching 
liarmfidly  his  prophets. 

Finally,  we  gratefully  rejoice,  that  tlie  services  of  this  day 
restores  the  complement  of  teachers  in  our  cherished  Sem- 
inary. Echoing  the  unanimous  deliverance  of  the  General 
Synod,  we  exult  with  its  anticipations.  "  The  acknowledged 
ability,  learning  and  weight  of  chai-acter  which  distinguish 
the  Professor  elect,  the  tried  and  faithful  services  of  the 
learned  and  able  men  with  whom  he  is  to  be  associated,  and 
the  hope  clearly  held  out  to  the  Synod  of  the  endowment  of 
an  an  additional  Professorship,  promise  to  give  to  Ilertzog 
Hall  such  eminence  before  our  own  and  other  churches  as  it 
lias  never  j^et  enjoyed." 

AVe  expect  the  young  "men  of  God"  who  come  hence  to 
l)e  "  thoroughly  furnished  unto  all  good  works :"  "  mighty 
in  the  Scriptures:"  workmen  who  need  not  be  ashamed,  and 
who  as  "wise  master  builders,"  in  the  places  wlii(;h  God 
shall  appoint  them,  will  form  and  fit  the  "living  stones"  into 
the  walls  of  the  spiritual  temple,  which  are  to  compass  the 
earth  and  rise,  until  they  meet  the  "jSTew  Jerusalem  coming 
down  from  God  out  of  heaven,  prepared  as  a  l)ride  adorned 
for  her  husbaiul." 


CHA.RGP] 


)=IeY.     p.    ji.    ^TITT,    p.p 


Prof.   A,  B.  Y^n  Zant,   D.D 


My  Dear  Brother  : 

I  stand  here  in  the  Chnrch's  name  to  bid  you  a  hearty 
welcome  to  a  higher,  and  wider  field  of  labor  and  thought : 
A  held  whose  centre  and  circumference  is  God.  God's 
thoughts  are  every  where,  in  the  world  around  and  within ; 
sparkling  in  the  sk}^,  blossoming  on  earth,  throbbing  in  the 
ocean,  tingling  in  every  nerve  and  heart —  throb  of  this 
mysterious  Microcosm,  "  which  God  has  fearfully  and  won- 
derfully made."  But  God's  most  precious  thoughts  are 
here,  between  the  Bible  lids  ; — most  precious  to  you  and  me, 
because  they  come  direct  from  God's  own  heart.  Some  of 
them  peer  out  like  planets  of  the  iirst  magnitude  ;  others  are 


26  THE  31  AN  OF  GOD. 


finer  than  star-dust,  as  countless  and  jet  as  clear-cut  as  the 
sand.  It  is  to  be  your  work  to  gather  up  these  scattered 
threads  of  thought,  wherever  you  can  find  them,  arrange 
them  and  weave  them  into  a  pattern,  whose  beauty  and  sym- 
etry  shall  enstamp  itself  on  the  soul.  Your  work  lies  at  the 
root  ot  the  Gospel  and  the  Church.  Somehow  you  stand 
back  of  the  commission  "  go  into  all  the  world  and  preach, 
etc.,"  back  of  the  living  preacher  and  nearer  to  the  divine 
Christ  that  sent  him. 

Oh^  what  a  fearfully  responsible  position  :  To  teach  the 
teacher  and  iit  him  for  his  work  ! 

If  Isaiah  felt  that  his  lips  needed  to  be  touched  with  fire, 
as  he  stood  between  the  people  and  the  glory  that  shook  the 
door-posts  of  the  temple  ; — How  much  more,  you,  who  stand 
between  the  minister  and  the  Lord  of  glory  that  sends  him. 
You  feel  doubtless  as  Isaiah  did  when  he  cried, "  woe !  is  me, 
etc.  ;"  but  take  courage,  my  brother,  I  believe  that  Chi'ist's 
church  and  Christ  himself  have  sent  yon,  the  right  man  in 
the  right  place,  and  that  he  will  touch  your  heart  and  lips 
with  heavenly  iire.  Christ  never  sent  a  man  to  do  his  work, 
or  light  his  battles  on  his  own  charges  and  with  his  own 
weapons. 

Though  he  has  given  you  but  sling  and  pebbles,  he  has 
given  you  the  power  and  skill  to  w^ield  them  so  as  to  make 
the  giant  form  of  errot  bite  the  dust. 

1  our  work  is  the  same  that  it  has  ever  l)een — to  fur- 
nish the  minister  of  Christ  with  the  system  of  gospel  truths 
necessary  to  sul)due  the  world  Himself.  And  yet  it  is  not 
precisely  the  same. 


THE  MAN  OF  GOD.  37 


Yours  will  not  be  the  same  system  of  truth  that  was  taught 
before  the  mode  of  the  Divine  existence  was  assailed  and 
Nicene  Trinitarianism  arose  out  of  the  conflict; — not  the 
same  as  before  the  living  truth  was  buried  under  dead  forms, 
and  the  seed-germs  of  the  doctrine  of  "  a  standing  or  falling 
Church,"  were  taken  out  of  the  ruins  and  planted  in  the  Ee- 
formation  soil,  and  grew  'till  "  it  shooTc  like  Lebanon ;" — 
not  the  same  system,  as  it  was,  Ijefore  the  semi-Pelagianism 
of  the  remonstrants  began  to  corrupt  the  simplicity  of  the 
gospel,  which  compelled  the  Christian  world  to  lift  up  the 
standards  of  Dort  and  AYestminister ;  nor  yet  is  yours  to  be 
the  same  system  that  was  taught  before  the  reign  of  Rational- 
ism and  Neology  of  the  nineteeth  century,  which  by  the 
priests  of  intensified,  scientific  analysis  eliminates  facts  and 
probabilities  from  the  hearers  above  and  the  earth  beneath, 
only  to  throw  suspicion  on  the  records  and  Christianity  and 
the  character  of  its  author. 

It  will  not  do  to  sit  brooding  upon  the  old  systems  that 
have  been  reared  by  the  upheaval  of  errors  buried  cen- 
turies ago.  If  we  do  we  shall  go  under.  No,  we  must 
plant  our  system  above  and  beyond  the  high  water  marh, 
where  the  last  wave  of  error  has  spent  the  fury  of  its  force. 
We  need  a  theology  of  the  times,  adapted  to  present  exigen. 
cies  and  surroundings.  God  is  permitt'ng  the  enemy  to 
make  his  last  desperate  throw  in  tliese  latter  days.  The  old 
modes  of  attack  and  defence  will  not  do.  We  must  bring 
"  treasures  out  of  the  word    of    God,    both    new  and  old." 

The  grand,  essential,  saving  truths  of  the  word  of  God  of 
which  the  cross  is  the  centre,  are  to  constitute  the  warp  and 
woof  of  the  system. 


28  THE  MAN  OF  GOD. 


Yet  1  fearlessly  assert  there  must  be  progress  and  devel- 
opempnt  in  theology. 

TuTTH  cannot  he  enhn-ged  or  (liniinished.  Truth  as  it  relates 
to  (to(1  and  his  creatures  is  a;  eternal  and  unalterahle  as  God 
himself.  Truth  relating  to  sin  and  redemption,  dwelt  with 
God  hetbre  the  world  w;!s,  for  (  hrist  is  the  '■'"Latiih  slain  from, 
the  foundation  of  the  worldy'^  But  theology  is  not  neces- 
sarily or  strictly  truth,  l)ut  the  human  conception  and  ex- 
pression of  it ;  and  I  ask,  is  not  that  human  expression  im- 
2)erfect,  incohate,  germinal^  and  necessarily  sul)ject  to  the 
law  of  growth  and  developement  ? 

Truth  is  like  the  light  of  heaven,  white  and  transparent. 
])Ut  the  moment  it  enters  a  plant  or  tlower,  it  is  decomposed 
and  becomes  blue  or  green,  or  violet,  according  to  the  nature 
of  the  substance.  And  yet  it  is  the  same  truth  still — only 
it  takes  on  its  hue  from  the  constitution  of  the  human  subject. 
So  with  God's  Truth.  The  moment  it  enters  the  human 
mind  and  receives  its  subjective  tinge  or  hue,  it  becomes 
DOGMA  or  DOCTKiNE.  Dare  we  then  claim  Infallibility  ? 
No. — AVhat  then  ?  Is  our  theology  uncertain,  unstable,  un- 
reliable ?  God  forbid!  Every  conflict  with  error  has  brought 
out  the  clear  white  light  of  God's  truth. 

It  was  the  error  of  Ilymenas  and  Philetus  that  developed 
St.  Paul's  sublime  argument  for  the  resurrection  in  1.  Gor.  : 
15. 

It  was  the  assault  on  God's  sovereignty  in  redemption  that 
established  and  developed  the  Doctrine    in    strong   contrast 
with   human    freedom  and  shut  down  as  futile,  every   future 
*  Rev.  13:8. 


THE  3rAX   OF  GOD.  29 


attempt  at  reconciliation,  witli  the  Apostle's   qnietns    '■^wJw 
art   thou,  oh  -man,  that  repliest  against  God,^^'''  etc. 

It  wa.s  bald  Ariaiiit5m,  tliat  brought  out  into  white  light 
the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity.  It  was  Pelagian  self-merit,  that 
developed  the  doctrine  of  justification  of  foith,  so  as  to  com- 
mand the  consensus  of  the  Church  in  all  future  time.  Let  us 
hold  on  lo  every  form  of  sound  \vords  ;  to  every  truth  of 
God,  and  weave  them  into  our  Theology.  They  are  like 
the  ashestos  ;  they  have  been  purified  by  the  fire.  Every  one 
of  them  is  dripping  with  martyrs  hlood  shed  in -their  de- 
fence ;  aye !  dripping  with  the  blood  of  the  Great  High 
Priest  of  our  profession,  in  whose  cross  they  centre  and 
from  which  they  radiate. 

But  shall  we  sit  still  and  fold  our  arms,  while  other  truths 
are  dimly  seen  and  still  others  perverted  and  denied  ?  Who 
that  glances  at  the  situation  can   fail  to  see  room  for  pro- 


The  prince  of  British  essa3^ists,f  was  never  so  unphilosoph- 
ical  as  when  he  denied  progress  to  Theological  thought.  If 
he  was  right  when  he  affirmed  that  a  Christian  in  the  fifth 
century  with  the  Bible  in  his  hands,  was  on  a  par  with  a 
Christian  of  the  nineteenth  century,  then  Copernicus  was  on 
a  par  with  ITewton  and  ITerschell,  and  Agassiz,  and  Guyot, 
on  the  same  level  with  Sir  Thomas  Browne  and  the  King  of 
the  Alchemists.  I  feel  that  I  cannot  dismiss  this  subject  of  a 
Progressive  Theology  without  urging  home  a  three-fold  ar- 
gument which  enforces  it  as  a  present  necessity. 

It  is  the  NECESSITY — the  development,  utterance  and  de- 
fence OF  THE  TRUTH. 

*  Rom.  9 :  20.  f  McAuley. 


30  THE  3IAN   OF   GOD. 


1.  See  tlie  necessity  for  tlie  development  of  tlie  trutli. 
Modern  Exegesis  has  made  no  uncertain  progress  during  tlie 
last  half  century.  It  has  swept  away  many  a  trusted  text 
out  of  our  Classis  argumentorum  and  substituted  new^  ones 
in  their  stead,  and  planted  trembling  feet  more  firmly  on 
the  Rock  against  which  sophistry  and  scepticism  have  been 
dashing  for  centuries. 

But  without  touching  on  the  arcana  of  Scripture,  which 
call  for  exposition,  let  me  point  to  the  vast  field  of  unfulfilled 
prophecy,  which  calls  for  a  still  more  searching  Exegesis  to 
evolve  God's  hidden  truth.  Take  for  example  the  Apoca- 
lypse. Between  the  Dogmatism  of  Adventists  who  are  not 
agreed  among  themselves,  and  the  conflicting  critical  theo- 
ries of  spiritual  Interpretors,  what  a  farrago  of  erudition 
has  arisen  like  mist  to  darken  counsel  by  word  without 
knowledge.  Amid  the  darkness  and  confusion  the  clmrch 
is  yearning  for  something  positive ;  some  exegetical  Colum- 
bus who  shall  cross  the  unexplored  sea  and  plant  his  foot 
upon  the  '^  terra  incognita,'^  Rjid  lead  the  church  into  the 
jn-edicted  transition — triumph. 

So  also  with  History.  The  buried  facts  of  History  are 
continually  coming  forth  from  the  cells  of  the  Convent  and 
the  ruins  of  Egypt  and  Syria  and  Palestine,  to  confirm  the 
record  of  the  Old  Testament,  and  the  personality  and  the 
divinity  of  Jesus." 

2.  S.)  likewise  in  regard  to  UTTERANCE.  There  must 
1)0  jn-ogress  in  the  statement  and  illustration  of  the  truth. 

There  is  but  little  of  absolute  truth  in  the  world.     Termin- 

*  See  the  recently  discoursed  uniform  inscriptions  of  such,  confirming  the 
Dehio'e  of  the  Bible,  and  of  Berosus. 


THE  MAX   OF  GOD.  31 


ology  and  modes  of  expression  cannot  resist  the  inevitable 
law  of  the  mntation  of  language.  And  shall  these  Formnlaries 
of  the  early  Church  and  the  liuformed  Church,  that  have  been 
forged  by  the  white  heat  of  controversy  l)e  an  exception  to 
this  law  ? 

Surely  they  must  be  explained  and  qnalified  so  as  to  har- 
monize with  the  analogy  of  Faith. 

I  know-there  is  a  toning  down  tliat  blunts  the  edge  of  the 
Truth.  But  who  does  not  see  that  a  little  softening  of  the 
wire-edge  will  make  the  Truth  cut  the  more  keenly  ?  The 
dry,  frigid  didacticism  of  former  centuries  was  a  slveleton 
strung  on  logical  wires.  We  want  the  bones  clothed  with  the 
flesh,  blood  and  muscle  of  the  living  truth.  The  great  de- 
mand of  the  age  is  truth,  mtalized,  incarnated  by  actual 
personal  experience.  We  must  make  the  abstract  to  stand 
out  in  the  concrete.  God  so  taught  the  truth  in  the 
Levitical  rites  and  Prophetic  announcements.  Jesus  did 
it  in  his  Parabolic  utterances.  He  never  buried  the  truth, 
but  vitalized  it,  and  fixed    it  in  the  mind  of  the  disciple. 

ISTo  man  can  clearly  grasp  a  principle  till  he  has  seen  it 
LiviNCi  and  breathing  in  real  life.  King  William  the  Third, 
confessed  to  l^ishop  Berkley  that  he  never  believed  in  the 
doctrine  of  Predestination  till  the  doctrine  of  a  personal  pro- 
vidence become  a  part  of  his  life  experience.  Here  lies  the 
power  of  the  Teacher  of  Theology,  as  well  as  the  Preacher  of 
the  Gospel.  There  is  no  limit  to  this  field  of  illustration  and 
analogy.  Nature  and  its  millions  of  ramnifications  in  God's 
universe  are  so  many  types  of  the  spiritual  kingdom — chords 
which  are  in  harmony  with  God's  hidden  thought ;  and  shall 


32  THE  MAN  OF  GOT). 


we  not  teach  them  and  bring  ont  the  shmibering  harmonies 
of  Heaven  ? 

3.  So  likewise  must  there  be  progress  in  the  defence  of 
the  Truth.  The  enemy  is  indeed  "  coming  in  like  a  flood," 
and  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  through  his  servants,  must  lift 
up  a  standard  against  him."  Philosophy  and  science,  by 
new  and  siibtler  processes,  are  analyzing  the  stars,  sapping 
and  mining  the  earth,  unpacking  its  surface,  and  denying 
mosaic  record  of  the  age,  the  unity,  and  the  origin  of  the 
race.  Beside  this,  the  rationalism  of  France  and  Germany, 
of  Oxford  and  lioston,  that  baptises  itself  with  the  name  of 
Christian,  by  its  exhaustive  researches  and  analogies,  is  seek- 
ing to  crush  out  the  inspiration  of  the  Bible  and  turn  the 
Gospels  into  the  vagaries  of  honest  enthusiasts.  Men  every- 
where are  losing  their  moorings  and  drifting  about  in  the 
open  sea  of  scepticism.  The  Dry-Rot  has  reached  the  Pul- 
pit and  its  thunder-tones  have  been  suppressed  into  uncertain 
sounds.  The  boldest  heroes  of  the  Pulpit  who  have  been 
loudest  for  human  rights  and  human  reforms,  have  been 
silent,  or  spoken  witli  1>ate(l  l)reath,  before  this  overshadow- 
ing  collossus  of  scientitic  self  assertion. 

Do  not  these  new  modes  of  assault  imply  new  defences  ? 
The  old  ones  are  crumbling  or  standing  useless.  Must  we  not 
meet  the  opposer  squarely  and  dislodge  liim  in  his  chosen  po- 
sition, opposing  parallel  to  parallel,  battery  to  l»attery,  and 
point  to  point?  Must  we  not  have  a  Ttieology  that  will  neu- 
tralize tlie  shock  of  the  student  at  the  tirst  blnsh  of  these  bald 
inferences  and  assertions — and  tide  him  over  the  shoals  into 
good  anchorage?  It  will  not  do  to  dodge  the  issue  by  crying 
"  Avaunt,"  '•  Brocul  este  protani  !  "  It    won't    do    to  decry 


THE  31  AN  OF  GOD.  33 


science,  and  liold  np  the  "shield  of  ignorance  against  the  ar- 
rows of  light/'  No,  we  muMt  take  the  drill  and  powder 
hlast  and  dig  deeper  into  the  howels  of  the  earth,  and  prove 
how  snperfieial  are  the  dogmas  of  science  and  how  God's 
truth  in  natui-e  harnioiiizes  with  every  ntterance  of  his  word. 
AVe  must  keep  pace  with  true  sciences,  and  if  we  cannot 
bridge  every  chasm,  we  can  ])oint  to  the  rainbow-arch  that 
surely  spans  it. 

Th3  Theologian  of  to-day  is  a  mighty  instrumental- 
ity, under  God,  in  the  fultillment  of  Prophecy  and  in 
shaping  the  world's  destiny  and  the  church's  destiny. 
Ko  mortal  can  estimate  the  tremendous  power  that  emenates 
from  this  chair  !  Dear  Brother,  1  must  magnity  your  office. 
x\s  a  student  of  past  opinion  the  Theologian  must  point  the 
coming  preacher  to  the  sjjecanis  imitations  of  the  Truth. 
He  must  tell  him  of  the  influence  of  the  Philosophy  and  sci- 
ence i)f  a  ])eople  on  their  Theology  ;  show  him  how  much 
evil  unsanctilied  learning  has  done,  and  how  much  more 
sanctified  ignorance  has  done  ; — and  above  all  point  out  the 
(piicksands  which  underlie  a  lu'oad  Church  and  a  creed 
which  io'nores  all  creeds. 

If  I  have  insisted  on  a  fully  developed  Theology  and  a 
strengthening  of  o;^?"  inorl's.  it  is  to  make  the  citadel  impreg 
nahle  ;  it  is  not  to  develope  new  doctrine,  but  to  fortity  the 
old  ones,  which  are  dearer  to  us  than  life.  Progress  in  the 
right  direction  not  innovation. 

When  Luther  and  Zuinglius  and  Calvin  let  go  tlieir  hold 
on  Human  Dogmas,  they  took  a  firmer  hold  on  Christ  and 
Him  crucified. 

Here  is  your  glory  and  defence.  Never  he  ashamed  of 
the   Gospi'l.     jNever  lose  sight  of  the  Cross  for  a  single  mo- 


34  THE  MAN  OF  GOD. 


ment.  Lift  it  up  on  higli.  in  all  the  fulness  and  freeness  of 
a  personal,  positive,  God-satisfviiio-,  (rod-deterniined  "Re- 
demption, so  that,  like  Zion's  golden  turrets  in  the  sunlight, 
every  part  of  your  system  may  reflect  the  glory  of  the  Sun 
of   Righteousness. 

Here,  my  Brother,  is  the  beginning,  middle  and  end 
of  your  teaching  and  of  our  preaching.  I  look  on  the  past 
and  bless  God  for  a  line  of  the  predecessors,  every  one  of 
which,  from  the  sainted  Livingston  to  the  late  lamented 
Berg,  have  shown  so  illustronsly  in  their  love  and  loyalty  to 
Jesus  and  his  Cross.  If  your  past  record  has  any  meaning, 
1  know  my  dear  brother,  that  you  will  not  be  a  whit  be- 
hiiul   the  chiefest  of  them. 

Finally,  take  heed,  my  Brother,  not  only  to  thy  Doctrine, 
hut  to  thy  life.  You  are  the  'mould  into  which  the  doctrine 
and  life  of  the  future  ministry  and  Church  are  to  be  cast. 
You  are  the  S27urk,  which,  under  Cod,  shall  set  the  ti-ain  in 
motion  and  give  it  velocity  and  direction.  You  are  to  im- 
press your  principles,  life,  spirit,  manhood,  upon  the  coming- 
ministry  and  age.  Make  full  proof  of  your  ministry.  Get 
into  complete  sympathy  with  your  pupils.  Get  close  up  to 
them,  and  let  your  humanity  touch  them  at  every  point. 
Get  down  to  the  level  of  the  minds  you  are  dealing  with. 
When  the  musician  is  teaching  a  child  to  sound  a  high 
note,  he  does  not  stand  al)ove  the  octaves  and  cry  "  higher!" 
No,  he  comes  down  to  his  pupiFs  tone  and  leads  him  on 
with  his  voice,  till  he  has  reached  the  lofty  key.  Get  down 
to  their  level,  be  identitied  with  their  doubts  and  difficulties 
and  you  will  strike  a  responsive  chord,  which  will  lead  them 
\\\)    to  your  highest  level.     Creep  with  them  and  they  will 


THE  31  AN  OF  GOD.  35 


walk  and  run  with  you  bye  and  bye,  and  it  may  be  out- 
strip you.  Oh,  you  have  a  peerless  example  here.  Jesus 
came  doAvn  to  our  lowest  level  of  darkness,  doubt  and  death, 
that  he  might  lift  them  up  to  his  own  light  and  immortality. 
Excelsior!  Lift  them  up.  This  is  eminently  your  mission, 
my  Brother. 

"  To  soar  to  brig-hter  worlds  and  lead  the  way." 

Let  me  congratulate  you  in  the  position  which  you  occupy 
to  day.  Be  assured.  Dear  Brother,  you  have  the  confidence 
and  sympathy  of  the  Cluirch  wliich  has  called  you  to  this  high 
office,  and  the  cordial  co-operation  of  your  brother  professors. 
Shrink  not  from  the  ordeal  of  its  labors  and  responsibilities 
— for  you  have  the  strength  and  presence  of  a  personal 
Christ  to  lean  upon.  Your  success  and  reward  are  sure.  If 
you  faithfully  feed  them,  that  feed  the  liock  of  God  "  when 
the  chief  Shepherd  shall  appear,  yon  shall  receive  a  crown 
of  o'lorv  that  fadeth  not  awav. 


p 


NAUGUP^^AL       IJISCOURSE, 


BY  PROFESSOR  A.    B.  VAN  ZANDT,   D.   D. 


A    BIBLICAL   THKOLOGY— ITS   METHOD  AND 
PBOGRKSS. 


The  friends  of  sacred  learning  have  reason  to  rejoice  Mdien 
those  to  Mdioni  God  has  given  M'ealtli,  liave  given  to  them 
also  the  spirit  of  enlarged  and  enlightened  liberality.  It  is 
to  men  of  this  spirit  that  our  Seminary  is  a  debtor  for  its  ap- 
pointments and  resources,  to  an  extent  which  will  perpetu- 
ate their,  names  in  honorable  mention,  so  long  as  an  educated 
ministry  is  counted  among  the  blessings  of  the  Church,  and 
gratitude  is  numbered  among  tlie  cardinal  virtues. 

It  will  not  1)6  deemed  invidious  to  any  of  these  noble 
benefactors,  if  we  yield  to  the  impulse  of  the  present  occa- 
sion, by  a  grateful  reference  to  that  veneraljle  man,  whose 
honored  name  lias  so  long  been  identified  with  the  benevo- 
lence of  the  Church,  and  by  whose  princely  munificence  the 
chair  now  to  be  filled  has  been  so  amply  endowed.  His  en- 
forced absence  from  these  solemnities,  by  serious  illness,  is  the 
one  painful  circumstance  of  this  occasion.  The  heart  of  the 
entire  Church  Avill  respond  to  the  prayer,  that  he  may  yet 
long  be  spared  to  witness  the  fruit  of  his  wise  benefactions, 


38  A    BIBLICAL    THEOLOGY. 

and  to  enjoy  a  present  reward  in,  a  still  increasing,  able,  de- 
voted and  efficient  ministry.  j 

I 
Entering  npon  the  untried  and  responsible  duties  now  be-       j 

fore  nie,  I  find  my  encouragement  in  the  assured  sympathies  \ 
and  prayers  of  my  brethren  of  the  General  Synod  and  of  the 
Church  at  large — in  the  hearty  welcome,  co-operation  and 
counsel,  of  the  able  and  experienced  professors,  my  associates  1 
in  office — and  in  the  early  and  earnest  expressions  of  confi- 
dence and  kindness,  which  have  come  to  me  from  the  hon- 
ored president  and  faculty  of  Rutger's  College,  the  institu- 
tion most  nearly  allied  to  our  own. 

To  meet  the  rerpiirements  of  the  position   I  will  need  all 
these  supports  ;  and  besides  and  above  them  all,  I  will  need 
that  help  which  comes  only  from  God.     I  am  tlie  more  sen- 
sible of  my  own  deficiencies,  when  I  recall  the  distinguished        i 
men  who  have  occupied  this  chair,  and  adorned  it.     And  my        j 
estimate  of  its  importance  and   responsibility  becomes  well- 
nigh  appalling,  when  I  consider  the  new  questions  involved 
and  new  resources  demanded,  by  the  advanced  condition  of       : 
theological  science.     Then  only,  does  my  consent  to  assume 
this  responsibility  appear  to  myself  as  less  than  presumption, 
wlien  I  remember  that  truth  is  always  stronger  than  error,        j 
and  the  God  of  truth  is  the  promised   guide   and  helper  of 
the  honest  and  earnest  inquii-er. 

The  usage  which  calls  for  this  address  has  also  sufficiently 
defined  its  scope,  and  we  shall  endeavor  to  meet  the  recjuire" 
ments  of  the  occasion,  by  presenting  some  general  intimations 
of  the  spirit  and  methods  proper  to  the  instruction  commit- 
ted to  this  chair. 


A    BIBLICAL    THEOLOGY.  39 


To  the  department  of  Didactic  and  Polemic  Theology,  be- 
longs the  scieiititic  statement  of  received  truth,  in  its  logical 
relations,  together  with  its  defence  against  opposing  errors 
and  heresies. 

Of  the  truth  with  which  it  is  concerned,  God  is  the  author 
and  God  is  the  object ;  and  its  factors  are  found  in  all  those 
nuxnifestations  which  God  has  made  of  Himself  in  the  works 
of  His  hand,  the  ways  of  His  providence,  the  word.  His 
truth  and  the  experience  of  His  people. 

The  questions  upon  which  it  is  exercised  have  respect  to 
the  existence  of  God,  His  nature  and  attributes,  the  modes 
of  His  subsistence,  the  final  cause  of  creation  and  provi- 
dence, and  the  relations,  nature,  obligations,  conditions,  and 
destines  of  His  intelligent  creatures. 

A  single  glance  at  the  held  of  in(|uiry  reveals  its  extent,  as 
commensurate  with  all  that  man  can  know  of  his  Maker,  of 
himself,  of  the  world  in  which  he  lives  and  of  the  future 
which  lies  beyond  it.  To  such  investigations  all  knowledge 
is  subordinate,  and  all  possible  attainments  are  applicable. 

For  theology,  in  its  broad  sense,  we  can  claim  no  lower 
place  than  that  of  queen  of  the  sciences  and  the  ultimate  philo- 
sophy. In  her  broad  scope  theology  embraces  tlie  whole 
circumference  of  truth;  and  from  her  infallible  conclusions 
those  principles  are  derived,  which  underlie  all  phenomena 
and  harmonize  all  relations. 

The  method  of  investion  in  theology,  is  substantially  the 
same,  with  that  which  during  the  last  two  centuries  has 
proved  so  fruitful  in  physical  science  and  philosophy,  and  it 
is  a  conviction  which  each    new   development  is  strengthen- 


40  .1  niiiLicAL  TifEOLoay. 


ing,  tliat  honest  inquirers  along  these  different  h'nes  of 
thought,  will  ultimately  arrive  at  conclusions  that  are  co- 
incident. 

"  He  Avho  gave  the  Bible  built  the  universe,  and  His  voice 
must  be  heard  in  the  utterances  of  l)oth/'  A  true  science  in 
its  tinal  demonstrations,  and  a  true  theology  in  its  last  induc- 
tion, will  always  harmonize  with  a  true  interpretation  of  the 
Scriptures.  God  cannot  deny  Himself,  and  the  scientist 
who  rightly  reads  His  record  in  the  starry  heavens,  or  His 
footprints  in  the  rock  ribbed  earth,  will  recognize  in  l)oth 
the  Jehovah  of  the  Bible.  There  is  no  conflict  between  true 
science  and  revelation,  and  it  is  the  mark  of  a  sciolist,  un- 
derstanding neither,  to  persist  in  proclaiming  a  fend.  It  is 
a  weak  device  of  the  enemy,  to  represent  an  antagonism  in 
order  to  create  it. 

And  it  is  the  part  of  unwisdom,  for  the  friends  of  religion 
either  to  fear  or  to  flout  the  discoveries  of  science.  Her 
achievements  are  written  in  imperishable  results,  and  all 
who  love  the  progress  of  the  race  will  bid  God-speed  to  her 
well-directed  researcli.  But  M'hcn  tortured  nature  shall  have 
yielded  her  last  response  to  the  interrogatories  of  science, 
there  will  yet  remain  those  problems  to  be  solved,  concern- 
ing which  nature  is  silent;  and  in  the  presence  of  which 
im\\  revelation  can  take  up  the  fallen  clue,  aud  witness  to 
her  divine  origin  and  authority,  by  guiding  the  bewildered 
incpiirer  through  the  labyrinth  of  doubt  and  uncertainty  to 
the  knowledge  of  a  personal  God  and  Father,  and  the  way 
of  salvation  through  His  g]-ace. 

But  we  should  do  injustice  to  theology  if  we  claimed  for  its 
teachings  no  higher  office  tlian  that  of  supplementing  the 


A   BIBLICAL    THEOLOGY.  41 


discoveries  of  natural  science  and  pliilosopliy.  It  is  not  too 
much  to  say,  that  all  inquiry,  into  things  material  or  spiritual, 
owes  its  birth  and  beginning  to  the  pressure  upon  the 
human  soul  of  those  problems  upon  which  theology  is  special- 
ly exercised.  The  cpiestions  of  being,  causation,  responsibili- 
ty and  destiny,  awakened  less  by  the  appeals  of  external 
nature  than  by  the  voice  of  God  within  the  soul,  have  in 
every  age  kept  alive  the  energy  of  thought,  and  preserved 
the  race  from  the  stagnation  of  mental  and  moral  death. 
From  the  starting-point  of  these  problems  all  the  civiliza- 
tions of  the  world  have  emerged,  and  their  progress  has  been 
proportioned  to  the  measure  of  truth,  drawn  from  the  depths 
of  the  interior  life  or  from  partial  revelations,  and  formulated 
into  religions  more  or  less  consistent  or  absurd.  We  go  still 
farther,  and  assert  as  a  historical  fact,  that  natural  science 
and  philosophy  owe  to  the  theology  of  the  Bible  tlie  dis- 
covery and  application  of  that  only  method  of  inquiry  which 
has  ever  proved  remunerative,  and  by  which  alone  they 
have  reached  their  present  advanced  position.  It  is  a  well- 
known  fact  that  those  sciences  which  now  claim  the  "  induc- 
tive method  "  as  peculiarly  their  own,  were  a  chaos  of  con- 
tradictions, or  a  congeries  of  disconnected  facts,  until  Bacon 
had  unfolded  and  applied  to  the  study  of  nature,  that  system 
which  has  immortalized  his  name.  And  it  is  more  than  a 
coincidence  that  by  the,  perhaps  unconscious,  application  of 
that  system  to  the  study  of  religion,  nearly  a  century  before^ 
Luther  was  emancipated  and  the  Bible  unchained.  The 
great  iconoclast  who  beat  down  the  images  of  superstition  in 
the  temple  preceded  and  prepared  the  way  for  that  other, 
who  smote  the  "  idols  of  the  tribe,  the  den,  the  market  and 
the  forum."     Tyndal's  translation  of  the  English  Bible  pre- 


42  A  BIBLICAL    THEOLOGY. 

ceded,  by  nearly  a  hundred  years,  tlie  publication  of  the  No- 
vum Organum.  And  there  never  could  have  been  a  Bacon 
"vvithout  the  Bible. 

That  philosophy  which  is  the  mother  of  all  true  science  is 
itself  the  product  of  the  Keformation,  and  belongs  to  Pro- 
testant Christianity,  under  the  influence  of  which  it  obtained 
recognition  and  has  achieved  all  its  triumphs. 

Moreover,  this  inductive  method,  in  its  application  to 
theology,  finds  the  ultimate  test  and  grandest  illustration  ot 
its  utility.  The  facts  and  phenomena  which  are  the  con- 
tents of  natural  science,  are  all  within  the  contents  of  theolo- 
gy, and  besides  and  beyond  all  these,  there  is  a  whole  de- 
partment ot  truth  which  is  peculiarly  its  own.  It  is  the 
province  of  science  to  trace  and  expound  the  fundamental 
laws  of  the  physical  universe  ;  theology  unfolds  the  uniform 
laws  of  God's  moral  and  spiritual  government.  The  utmost 
generalizations  ot  the  former  reach  only  to  relations  which 
are  natural  and  finite  ;  the  conclusions  of  the  latter  extend 
to  those  which  are  supernatural,  and  take  hold  upon  the  in- 
finite and  incomprehensible.  And  yet  all  the  facts  which  it 
is  the  province  of  theology  to  collect  and  combine  into  the 
unity  of  a  system,  consistent  and  complete,  are  gathered 
within  the  compass  of  a  book — the  Book.,  which  is  itself  the 
standard  by  which  all  conclusions  must  be  tried.  Thus  the 
analytical  method  here  finds  its  utmost  sco23e,  and  its  capa- 
bility and  conclusions  are  alike  brought  to  the  test  of  an  in- 
fallible standard. 

The  fact  just  referred  to  mai'ks  a  peculiarity  in  Christian 
theology,  on  account  of  Avhicli  some  have  been  disposed  to 
exclude  it  from  the  circle  of  the  sciences.     Its  materials  are 


A   BIBLICAL   THEOLOGY.  43 


not  gathered  by  observation  and  experiment,  but  are  given 
immediately  by  revelation.  Many  of  its  conclusions  also 
transcend  our  reason,  and  rest  alone  upon  the  authority  of 
the  Scriptures  which  contain  them. 

But  to  bring  out  these  conclusions,  and  arrange  them  in 
their  order  and  coherence,  requires  a  patience,  diligence  and 
rigid  accuracy  of  induction  equal  to  that  which  is  demanded 
by  the  most  searching  scrutiny  of  nature.  In  both  cases, 
the  materials  lie  scattered  in  apparently  the  utmost  disorder. 
Yet  in  both  there  is  a  unity  of  design,  a  key  of  harmony, 
and  an  articulation  of  parts,  which  it  is  the  business  of  science 
to  discover  and  of  philosophy  to  unfold.  The  theologian 
collects  his  data,  scattered  through  histories,  poems,  prophe- 
cies, precepts,  promises,  and  epistles  of  the  Bible,  and  from 
these  derives  his  doctrines,  and  builds  his  divinity,  just 
as  the  philosopher  gathers  his  facts  from  the  broad  field 
of  nature,  scrutinizes  and  combines  them,  and  builds  up  his 
science.  To  the  inquiries  of  both  alike,  there  will  also  be  a 
necessary  limitation  in  those  ultimate  truths  beyond  which 
finite  minds  cannot  go.  In  the  one  case,  the  conviction  of 
these  truths  may  rest  upon  an  induction  of  facts,  certified  by 
observation  and  experiment.  In  the  other  case,  an  equal 
certainty  may  be  as  philosoj)hically  reached  by  an  induction 
of  facts,  certified  by  consciousness  and  revelation. 

For  it  is  a  marvelous  assumption  which  yet  forms  the 
basis  of  man}^  a  deceptive  theory,  that  positive  truth  has 
no  relations  with  the  supernatural,  and  is  to  be  sought  for 
only  within  the  possibilities  of  rational  demonstration.  Rev- 
elation itself,  as  a  fact  to  be  ascertained,  conies  within  the 
range  of  demonstration,  and  demands  it.     But  its  divine  an- 


44  A   BIBLICAL    THEOLOGY. 

thority  once  conceded,  and  all  its  forms  of  truth  are  as 
positive  as  any  demonstrations  of  physical  science.  Hence, 
when  its  disclosnres  carry  ns  beyond  the  bonnds  of  the  com- 
prehensible, we  may  yet  rest  in  the  conviction  of  an  ulti- 
mate truth,  equally  as  when  science  has  reached  its  last 
analysis. 

Thus  we  arrive  at  the  true  idea  of  a  Biblical  theology.  It 
is  not  a  system  of  dogmas,  arbitrarily  assumed,  or  implicitly 
received,  and  for  the  defence  of  which  texts  are  to  be  gath- 
ered and  marshalled,  and  strained  and  twisted,  until  the  tor. 
tured  record  yields  up  a  meaning  that  can  be  made  to  square 
with  the  doctrine.  The  cardinal  pr'jiciple  of  the  Reforma- 
tion, which  afterwards  wrought  also  the  emancipation  of 
philosophy,  was  the  rejection  of  human  authority  and  the 
right  and  responsibility  of  private  judgment.  In  the  sense 
originally  intended  by  the  phrase,  "  The  Bible  and  the  Bil)lc 
alone,  is  the  religion  of  Protestants."  But  in  their  investi- 
gations of  truth,  Protestants  do  not  start  even  with  the  as- 
sumption that  the  Bible  is  true.  The  theologian  is  not 
bound  to  assume  anything,  except  those  fundamental  laws  of 
the  human  mind  which  must  be  admitted  before  reasoning 
can  begin  or  discovery  is  possible. 

From  the  remotest  starting  point  of  philosopliy  itself  he 
may  advance,  step  by  step,  with  a  true  induction,  in  estab- 
lishing the  credibility  and  authority  of  the  Scriptures,  until 
his  argument  shall  have  gathered  the  force  of  a  moral  demon- 
stration. And  after  he  has  reached  that  point,  he  will  still 
pursue  the  same  method  of  induction  in  ascertaining  Avhat  the 
Scriptures  do  actually  teach.  A  recognition  of  the  divine 
authority  in  the  Scriptures  is  no  more  derogatory  to  the  exer- 


A   BIBLICAL    THEOLOGY.  45 

cise  of  the  luiman  reason,  in  ascertaining  wliat  is  taiiglit  by 
them,  and  what  are  the  relations  of  truth,  then  a  recognition 
of  the  Liw  of  gravitation  is  derogatory  to  the  exercise  of  in- 
genuity and  skill,  in  its  application  to  the  purposes  of  prac- 
tical science.  In  botli  cases  there  is  an  ultimate  truth  ever 
before  the  mind,  to  which  all  its  reasonings  and  inventions 
must  still  be  held  subordinate.  But  in  both  cases  that  ulti- 
mate truth  no  further  restrains  us  than  as  it  limits  a  lawless 
speculation,  and  holds  it  to  the  anchorage  of  fundamental 
principles. 

But  an  important  distinction  meets  us  here,  between  the 
use  of  reason  as  an  interpreter  of  Scripture,  and  its  perver- 
sion when  it  is  made  the  arbiter  of  truth. 

A  '■'■revelation''^  must  reveal  something,  and  the  claim  of 
the  Scriptures  to  be  a  divine  revelation  cannot  be  maintained 
unless  they  disclose  to  us  what  could  not  otherwise  be  known. 
If  the  human  reason  is  able  to  pronounce  what  they  ought 
to  contain,  the  implication  is  unavoidable  that  reason  might 
also  have  discovered  their  contents,  and  thus  the  necessity  of 
a  revelation  is  superc3ded,  and  its  credibility  fatally  impaired. 
We  may  judge  of  the  reasonableness  of  a  revelation,  and  of 
the  evidences  by  which  it  is  accredited.  We  may  also  em- 
ploy all  our  powers,  with  the  aid  of  the  highest  culture,  in 
ascertaining  the  contents  and  meaning  of  the  record.  But 
just  in  proportion  as  it  bears  an  impress  of  the  Divine  hand, 
and  is  recognized  as  the  word  of  God,  we  will  expect  its 
teachings  to  rise  above  the  phine  of  the  human  understand- 
ings and  that  its  mysteries  will  transcend  our  finite  reason. 
Hence  any  so-called  "  philosophy  of  religion"  Avliich  assumes 
to  explain  the  rationale  of  divine  things,  will  always  end  in 
a  denial  of  the  distinctive  doctrines  of  the  Bible,  or,  what  is 


46  A   BIBLICAL    THEOLOGY. 


equivalent  to  a  denial,  sucli  an  exposition  of  them  as  elimi- 
nates all  their  vitality. 

For  reason  to  judge  of  the  truth  of  doctrines  clearly  re- 
vealed is  as  absurd  and  irrational  as  for  reason  to  judge  of 
the  truth  of  the  facts  revealed  in  nature.  The  office  of 
reason,  in  either  case,  is  to  ascertain  what  are  facts, 
and  then  to  believe  in  them,  however  incomprehensible 
and  apparently  contrary  to  other  facts  or  preconceived 
opinions  they  may  be.  Whenever  it  attempts  more  than 
this,  reason  is  unreasonable. 

The  truth  and  comprehension  of  a  fact  in  nature,  or  a  doc- 
trine in  revelation,  is  not  the  province  of  reason,  l)ut  only 
the  ascertaining  of  the  testimony  and  the  determination  of 
the  evidence  by  which  they  are  proved  to  he  facts  in  nature? 
or  doctrines  of  revelation. 

Thus  in  its  method,  as  well  as  in  its  conclusions,  a  true 
Biljlical  theology  stands  opposed,  alike  to  the  dreams  of  fana- 
ticism, the  superstition  of  Romanism,  and  the  license  of  Ra- 
tionalism, in  all  their  multitudinous  forms  of  development.  ! 
The  fanatic  consecrates  the  vagaries  of  his  own  bewildered  i 
imagination,  and  accepting  them  as  the  direct  illumination  | 
of  the  Spirit,  is  careless  to  ascertain  the  meaning  of  the 
written  word.  The  Romanist  has  no  further  use  for  the  | 
reasoning  faculty,  after  it  has  bi'ought  him  to  what  he  re-  i 
gards  as  an  infallible  Church,  whose  dicta  are  to  be  received,  1 
regardless  alike  of  the  contradictions  of  his  senses,  his  i 
reason,  or  the  word  of  God.  In  opposition  to  both,  the  Ra- 
tionalist exalts  his  own  reason  to   the  throne  of  judgment. 


A   BIBLICAL    THEOLOGY.  47 


accepts  it  as  a  sufficient  guide,  and  refuses  to  submit  to  the 
guidance  of  God,  or  to  assent  to  wliat  lias  all  the  inward  and 
external  marks  of  truth,  because  he  cannot  fathom  the  in- 
comprehensible, or  give  a  rational  account  of  those  deep 
things  which  God  has  not  seen  fit  to  explain  or  which  lie 
beyond  the  grasp  of  the  finite  mind. 

By  these  opposite  errorists  the  reason  is  either  deified  or 
debased.  But  in  the  method  which  has  been  indicated  we 
find  its  true  position,  as  neither  a  sovereign  nor  a  slave, 
neither  all-sufficient  nor  hopelessly  imbecile,  but  as  that 
faculty,  divinely  given,  by  which  we  are  enabled  to  apprehend 
the  voice  of  God,  when  He  speaks  in  His  works  or  in  His 
word. 

From  this  brief  statement  of  its  materials  and  its  method  it 
is  easy  to  infer  the  nature  and  elements  of  true  progress  in 
theological  science.  "  A  progressive  theology "  is  one  of 
those  popular  phrases  which  by  a  constant  iteration,  with 
divers  and  discordant  meanings,  or  with  no  meaning  at  all, 
rapidly  degenerate  into  cant.  From  its  frequent  abuse,  as  a 
convenient  cover  for  all  sorts  of  theological  absurdities,  this 
phrase  has  come  to  be  regarded  with  suspicion  by  conservative 
thinkers.  And  yet,  in  its  true  sense,  it  is  an  apt  expression  of 
a  desirable  and  necessary  inovement.  The  history  of  theology 
is  the  history  of  progress,  nor  can  it  be  supposed  that  the 
whole  field  of  inquiry  has  already  been  explored,  and  every 
question  been  subjected  to  so  exhausting  a  scrutiny  as  to 
leave  no  ground  for  its  revision — no  possibility  of  a  modifi- 
cation of  results,  with  a  nearer  approximation  to  truth.  If 
there  is  danger  that  speculation  will  become  erratic,  and  a 
craving  after  novelties  become  chronic  and  destructive,  there 
may  be  danger  on  the  other  hand,  that  conservatism  will  be- 


48  A   BIBLICAL   THEOLOGY. 


come  stagnation,  and  authority  nsurp  again  the  place  of  in- 
telligent research  and  responsible  judgment. 

With  improved  apparatus,  consequent  upon  the  advance 
of  those  sciences  nearly  related  to  interpretation,  the  sacred 
text  becomes  daily  more  luminous. ,  Portions  of  it,  long  neg- 
lected, assume  a  new  importance  from  a  clearer  insight  of 
their  meaning  and  connections,  and  a  broader  comprehen- 
sion of  the  grand  scope  and  miraculous  unity  of  the  whole. 
As  the  relations  of  truth  are  better  understood,  its  doctrines 
arrange  themselves  in  logical  order,  and  out  of  the  seeming 
chaos  of  disjointed  dogmas  grows  up  a  coherent  system, 
symmetrical  and  complete. 

For  what  has  already  been  attained  in  this  direction  we 
owe  more  than  can  be  expressed  to  the  pious  labors  and  em- 
inent learning  of  the  pasf.  And  it  is  the  height  of  empiri- 
cism to  ignore  its  results,  or  contemptuously  discard  its  es- 
tablished conclusions.  There  is  a  manifest  divine  providence 
which  has  guided  the  Church  through  all  the  great  epochs 
of  lier  theological  development.  And  that  same  God  who 
gave  the  written  word,  in  successive  accretions  to  the  canon, 
as  His  purposes  were  unfolded  in  the  history  of  redemption, 
until  He  had  closed  the  Book  and  sealed  it  with  His  anath- 
ema, in  like  manner  has  led  on  the  bride  of  heaven  to  the 
understanding  of  her  charter,  as  the  exigencies  of  her  con- 
dition demanded  the  support  and  consolation  of  its  truths. 
And  in  like  manner  He  will  lead  her  still,  with  ever-increas- 
ing apprehension  of  its  significance  and  value,  until  the 
light  of  the  written  word  shall  give  place  to  the  light  of  His 
presence  who  "  in  the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and  the 
Word  was  with  God,  and  the  Word  was  God. 


A   BIBLICAL    THEOLOGY.  49 


Thus  there  is  a  development  of  doctrine,  a  "  progressive 
theology,- '  bnt  it  is  wide  as  the  poles  from  that  modern  theorj^ 
which  is  the  convenient  invention  and  fevorite  refnge  of 
errorists.  It  is  one  thing  for  the  Church,  under  the  discipline 
of  Divine  Providence,  and  urged  by  her  own  needs,  to  be 
brought  to  a  more  earnest  and  thorough  research  into  the 
meaning  of  Scripture,  and  into  a  deeper  insight  and  more 
exact  definition  of  its  doctrines  ;  and  it  is  another  and  very 
different  thing,  under  pretext  of  "  development,"  to  pro- 
ject these  doctrines  on  to  conclusions  outside  of  the  re- 
cord, overlaying  the  truth  with  human  additions,  and  making 
it  void  with  doubtful  speculations. 

We  cannot  abandon  the  fundamental  principle  that  the 
Scriptures  contain  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge, 
and  are  always  the  ultimate  and  infallible  standard,  without 
casting  ourselves  adrift  upon  a  shoreless  sea,  to  be  driven  by 
every  wind  of  doctrine,  through  the  rayless  gloom  of  never- 
ending  uncertainty.  All  truth  is  in  the  Bible,  but  is  there 
like  treasures  hid  in  a  field,  and  that  field  is  so  vast,  and  those 
treasures  so  abundant,  that  the  research  of  all  ages,  so  lar 
from  exhausting,  will  only  develop  new  stores  of  wealth  as 
new  exigencies  arise. 

Thus  there  is,  and  ever  must  be,  "^j>ro^r<?^95  "  in  theology. 
But  it  is  not  by  the  accretions  of  new  truth  which  the 
mind  is  able  to  evolve  from  the  germs  of  revelation,  but  by 
that  clearer  apprehension  of  the  relations,  significance  and 
power  of  truth  already  given,  by  which  the  Church,  under 
the  guidance  of  the  providence  and  Spirit  of  God,  comes 
ever  to  a  deeper  consciousness  of  the  exhaustless  treasure 
she  possesses  in  the  written  word. 


50  A   BIBLICAL    THEOLOGY. 

We  enter  this  field,  then,  not  as  explorers  of  a  territory 
before  unknown,  where  discovery  waits  upon  adventure. 
It  is  not  by  the  boldness  of  speculation,  but  by  the  labor  of 
research  and  the  illuminations  of  the  Spirit,  that  results  are 
here  to  be  reached.  The  Bible  was  written  for  all  ages,  and 
the  truth  whicii  it  reveals  is  always  the  same,  though  not  al- 
ways equallj"  apprehended.  Preceding  generations,  according 
to  the  measure  of  their  wants,  have  enjoyed  of  its  fullness ; 
and  our  advantage  lies  in  being  availed  of  their  labor;  so 
that,  letting  go  nothing  of  the  past  that  l)ears  the  evident 
impress  of  truth,  and  has  been  wrought  out  in  the  experience 
and  conflicts  of  the  Church,  we  also  may  unfold  new  aspects 
of  that  truth,  as  we  encounter  the  new  questions  of  our  day. 
It  is  within  the  limitations  of  this  view  alone  that  we  can 
apprehend  or  justify  the  notion  of  a  progressive  theology. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  is  this  view  also  which  justifies  the 
iiigh  estimation  and  continued  use  of  those  creeds  and  con- 
fessions, those  symbols  and  systems  of  doctrine,  in  whicli  the 
Church,  from  the  earliest  days,  has  sought  to  express  and  em- 
body her  faith. 

Systems  of  theology,  whether  in  the  condensed  brevity  of 
a  creed,  the  more  ample  statement  of  a  confession,  or  the 
full  and  formal  elaboration  of  a  body  of  divinit_Y,  are  in  their 
nature  synthetical,  and  it  is  still  an  open  question  with  many 
how  far  their  adoption  and  use  in  investigation  is  favorable 
to  the  progress  of  sound  theology.  It  may  be  said  that  if  all 
our  theology  is  in  the  Bible,  then  the  Bible  should  be  our 
text  book,  and  all  theological  investigation  should  be  strictly 
exegetical.  It  is  also  urged  that  the  principles  cf  the  inductive 
method  require  that,  without  any   accepted  hj^Dothesis,  or 


A   BIBLICAL    THEOLOGY.  51 

prearranged  system,  the  student  should  take  np  the  scattered 
revelations  of  Scripture,  as  so  many  phenomena  to  be  classi- 
fied, generalized,  and  brought  to  a  true  induction,  just  as  the 
naturalist  uses  physical  data  in  framing  a  sound  hypothesis. 

Further,  it  is  objected  that  the  uses  of  these  accredited 
systems  give  them  an  undue  authority,  restricting  the  free- 
dom of  thought,  and  tending  to  a  forceful  construction 
^\'hich  will  shape  every  declaration  of  scripture  to  the 
exigencies  of  the  system.  But  admitting  that  indolence 
may  abnse,  by  accepting  without  verification  the  results 
which  industry  has  gathered,  yet  it  must  be  remembered 
that  theology  is  a  science,  and  not  merely  an  interpretation. 

Exegesis  gives  ns  the  facts,  in  separate  propositions,  but 
there  is  a  logical  relation  between  them  to  be  traced,  and 
there  is  a  discoverable  unity  and  harmony  of  the  whole, 
necessary  to  the  understanding  and  appreciation  of  it  parts. 

Moreover,  no  science  can  make  progress,  without  profiting 
by  the  generalizations  of  the  past.  The  end  of  all  induction 
is  the  establishment  of  a  sound  hypothesis,  which  shall  explain 
the  relatation  of  facts.  But  all  the  results  of  the  most  care- 
ful analysis  must  perish,  with  those  who  have  achieved  them, 
unless  they  are  crystallized  into  those  formulas  and  state- 
ments which  endure,  and  may  be  easily  verified.  Life  is 
too  short  for  every  man  to  work  out  for  himself  a  science 
de  novo — too  short  for  any  man  to  be  left  to  the  hazard  of 
running  through  the  wdiole  cycle  of  errors  and  heresies  be- 
fore he  arrives  at  the  truth. 

Still  more,  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  Churcirs  un- 
derstanding of  her  own  faith  has,  under  God,  been  evolved 
by  the  progress  of  her  own  life.     As  the  individual  believer 


52  A   BIBLICAL    THEOLOGY. 

gains  larger  and  clearer  views  of  truth  by  liis  own  experience 
of  its  power,  so  the  liistorv  of  tlie  Chnrcli  is  to  her  an  ex- 
perience, and  her  symbols  and  formulas  are  the  monuments 
of  those  struggles  and  conflicts  which  have  clarified  her  ap- 
prehension and  intensified  her  love  of  the  truth.  This  pro- 
cess may  go  on,  but  it  cannot  be  repeated,  and  in  the  records 
of  it  we  discern  the  manifest  guidance  of  God  in  settling  "  the 
analogy  of  faith,"  only  less  distinctly  than  in  the  written 
w^ord.  At  any  rate,  we  may  be  more  confident  that  we  are 
following  the  leadership  of  the  Great  Shepherd,  whenVe 
can  clearly  trace  "  the  footsteps  of  the  flock." 

We  have  no  fear  of  an  undue  bias  of  mind  from  the  free 
use  of  those  accredited  systems  in  which  the  sum  of  our  doc- 
trines is  clearly  set  forth.  The  notion  is  chimerical  and  ab- 
surd that  the  mind  must  be,  or  can  be  emptied  of  all  precon- 
ceptions, and  brought  to  a  condition  in  equilibrio  in  order 
to  an  impartial  study  and  interpretation  of  Scripture.  For 
though  emptied  it  may  be  of  all  correct  hypothesis,  yet 
teeming  it  will  be  with  crude  and  erroneous  views,  which 
only  the  discipline  of  study,  and  the  efficacy  of  grace  can  ex- 
tirpate. Impartiality  of  mind  and  a  true  induction  are  in  no 
degree  secured  Ijy  the  absence  of  a  correct  hypothesis ;  for 
there  is  a  partiality  of  selfsufficiency  and  intellectual  pride, 
a  partiality  of  ignorance  and  innovation,  no  less  dangerous 
than  the  predilections  of  a  creed. 

Whilst,  therefore,  always  ready  to  postpone  what  is  hu- 
man to  that  which  is  divine,  and  acknowledging  no  authori- 
ty of  standards  wliich  are  not  verified  by  Scripture,  yet  I 
count  it  a  happiness,  to  have  marked  out  for  me  a  system  so 
unexceptionable  and  complete,  as  that  wliich  is  contained  in 


A   BIBLICAL    THEOLOGY.  53 

those  venerable  formulas  to  which  it  has  been  my  duty,  as  it 
has  also  been  my  pleasure,  to  subscribe  in  you  presence  this 
day.  Without  any  mental  reservations  or  misgivings,  I  ac- 
cept the  time-honored  standards  of  my  Church,  with  the  full 
conviction  that  the  doctrines  which  tlie}^  contain  are  the 
clear,  consistent,  catholic,  and  scriptural  exposition  of  "  the 
faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints." 

In  obedience  to  the  call  of  the  church,  I  now  enter  upon  the 
work  of  teaching  and  defending  those  doctrines,  as  a  theologi- 
cal professor.  And  they  are  no  idle  words, when  [  say  that  I  en- 
ter upon  this  work  with  trend )ling  solicitude.  When  first  the 
hands  of  the  Presbytery  were  laid  upon  my  head  in  the  solem- 
nities of  an  ordination  service,  I  felt  that  no  heavier  weight  of 
responsibility  could  be  laid  upon  any  man,  than  that  which  is 
involved  in  the  active  work  of  the  ministry.  For  thirty 
years  I  have  constantly  borne  that  burden,  finding  it  grow 
heavier  every  day,  and  yet  rejoicing  in  the  blessed  privilege 
of  bearing  it  still.  But  in  my  apprehension  of  tlie  obliga- 
tions of  the  office  to  which  I  am  now  called  in  the  solemnities 
of  this  hour,  there  has  been  devolved  upon  me  a  responsibil- 
ity immeasureably  greater.  In  the  trust  thus  conferred,  the 
interests,  not  of  individuals  or  of  a  single  congregation,  but 
of  the  whole  Church,  are  involved.  And  nothing  less  than 
the  soundness  and  efficiency  of  her  future  ministry  dej)ends, 
under  God,  upon  the  pei'ilous  issue.  The  impure  of  con- 
scious weakness  is  to  shrink  from  such  a  burden.  But  the 
conviction  of  duty  still  binds  it  upon  the  conscience,  whilst 
faithgathering  confidence  from  the  past,  is  trustful  and 
obedient,  in  the  remembrance  of  that  strength  which  is  made 
perfect  in  our  weakness. 

Immediate  results  that  shall  meet  tlie  desires  and  ijladden 


54  A    BIBLICAL    THEOLOGY. 

tlie  liecart  of  the  Clmrcli  are  more  tliaii  1  can  promise.  The 
issue  is  with  God,  and  without  tlie  advantage  of  a  name  or 
reputation  in  this  new  lield  of  ]al)or,  I  must  cast  myself  upon 
His  grace,  and  upon  the  forbearance  of  Church.  To  my 
brethren  in  the  ministry,  and  especially  to  those  by  whose 
influence  and  suffrages  this  responsibility  has  been  laid  upon 
me,  1  have  a  right  to  appeal.  And  by  all  their  personal 
regards,  by  their  attachment  to  tliis  venerable  institution, 
the  prosperity  of  wliich  is  identified  Avith  that  of  the  Church 
to  which  we  beh)iig,  and  by  their  concern  for  the  honor  of 
Christ,  I  appeal  to  them  this  day ;  and  I  utter  the  earnest 
and  utmost  desire  of  a  burdened  heart,  in  those  touching  and 
comprehensive  words  of  an  Apostle  : 

''  Brethren^  pray  for  tcs  !  " 


OTicE  OF    Mi\-    James    Suydam, 


Mr.  Suydam  was  born  on  Long  Island  toward  the  close 
of  the  last  eentnrj,  but  at  an  early  period  removed  to  tliis 
city,  where  he  eno;a,o;ed  in  mercantile  pursuits.  lie  brought 
with  him  habits  of  indnstrv,  frugality  and  integrity,  which 
marked  his  entire  career  as  a  merchant,  and  procured  under 
God's  blessing  the  prosperity  which  he  enjoyed.  He  passed 
unscathed  tin-ough  tiie  financial  storm  of  1837;  but  the  re- 
vulsions which  he  then  saw  and  the  distress  he  expe- 
rienced on  account  of  others'  embarrassments,  prematurely 
bleached  his  hair,  and  induced  him  while  yet  in  the  vigor- 
ous prime  of  his  years,  to  withdraw  from  the  responsibilities 
of  active  trade. 

The  leisure  thus  actpired  was  spent  not  only  in  the  care 
of  the  competence  he  had  achieved,  but  also  in  the  discharge 
of  domestic  and  social  duties,  in  the  service  of  public  insti- 
tutions, in  official  labors  for  the  church,  and  in  the  exei'cise 
of  a  very  wide  and  intelligent  charity.  Determined  to  for- 
go all  extravagance  and  parade,  he  yet  dispensed  a  graceful 
hospitality,  and  while  in  ihe  woiL.  was  not  of  it  nor  con- 
formed to  it.  He  held  an  open  hand  on  every  occasion  when 
free-will  offerings  were  called  for.  It  was  his  pleasure  to  do 
good  by  stealth,  to  send  benefactions  \vhere  their  source 
w"ould  not  be  known,  arid  the  various  almoners  of  his  bounty 
w^ere  cautioned  to  sound  no  trumpet  before  them. 


56  NOTICE    OF  MR.   JA3IES  SUYBA3I. 

His  liberality  grew  with  liis  years,  and  was  often  marked 
by  a  peculiar  foresiglit  and  largeness  of  heart,  as  for  example 
in  the  case  of  the  reserve  fund  given  at  an  early  period  to 
the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  to  serve  as  a  basis  for  loans 
in  case  of  extremity,  and  in  his  special  gifts  to  the  American 
Bible  Society,  at  times  when  circumstances  demanded  ex- 
traordinary eiforts  from  its  friends. 

But  in  tlie  closing  period  of  his  life  his  benefactions  as- 
sumed very  large  proportions,  such  as  the  liberal  endowment 
of  a  Professorship  of  Didactic  and  Polemic  Theology  in  the 
Seminary  at  ]^ew  Brunswick,  JS^  J.,  and  the  erection  of 
a  stately  building  for  the  use  and  advantage  of  students 
tor  the  ministry.  In  these  gifts  he  wronged  no  one,  nor 
disappointed  any  reasonable  expectation  on  the  part  of  his 
kindred  or  friends,  but  according  to  Ins  own  princely 
disposition,  made  provision  for  the  wants  of  the  church,  for 
the  present  generation  and  for  many  that  are  to  come.  But 
wliat  he  was  is  more  than  what  he  did.  He  was  great- 
er than  any  or  all  of  his  gilts.  His  simplicity,  integrity, 
purity,  piety,  and  zeal,  his  devotion  to  God  and  love  for 
man,  his  unblemished  walk  and  stainless  name  are  a  richer 
legacy  than  endowments  or  estate,  and  the  church  has  reason 
to  rejoice  that  competent  hands  are  preparing  a  suitable  me- 
morial of  a  life  at  once  so  consistent  and  so  useful. 


PHOTOMOUNT 
PAMPHLET  BINDER 

PAT     NO. 

877188 

Manafactuted  by 

GAVIORD  BROS.  Inc. 

Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

Stockton,  Calif. 


